Dr. Stephen Simpson, born on July 29, 1793, in Wolston, Warwickshire, England, played a significant role in the early development of Queensland, Australia. He was appointed as the Commissioner for Crown Lands for the Moreton Bay District. In addition to his was a Doctor of Medicine, a Justice of the Peace, and a Police Magistrate. […]
Stephen Simpson established the first military facility in the Wacol area. Read More »
Darra Ordnance Depot: role and significance During World War II the Darra Ordnance Depot—situated along Archerfield Road—played a crucial role in the South West Pacific theatre. Constructed in early 1942, the site quickly became one of the largest munitions depots in the region, supporting the logistical needs of Allied forces and acting as a major
Darra Ordnance Depot and freak explosion Read More »
In the immediate post-War World years, refugees from war-torn Europe were resettled in different places across Australia. By 1949, it is estimated that one-tenth of the American/Dutch/Australian Army’s Camp Columbia area became the Wacol East Displaced Persons Holding Camp. In the early 1950s the camp was developed to become the Wacol Migrant Centre, the biggest
After the war Camp Columbia was opened for refugees and migrants Read More »
This is possible the last remaining hut of the military barracks at Camp Columbia Wacol Station Road At the time Ed make the picture above, the site was visited by the local kangaroos. One of them is also visible on that picture. Any further information is very welcome. See also: Buildings and facilities during the
Last remaining hut of the military barracks at Camp Columbia Read More »
While there were strong voices for greater forms of independence for Indonesia, the conservative hard-line Dutch Government was only prepared to provide more participation of Indonesians in local government structures but it would still have to be under the final control of the Netherlands, they had no interest in discussing independence and were adamant to
The Black Armada in support Indonesian Independence Read More »
A large area in and around Wacol – which was nearly all bush land at that time – was selected as its major staging camp for the US Army in the South West Pacific. Here weapons, ammunition and equipment in transit were assembled or processed. A range of military facilities were build in the area
Staging Camp Columbia – 1942 Read More »
Officer Candidate School During 1942/1943 the Americans established the Officer Candidate School (OCS), on the other side of the railway in Wacol, in the area known as Camp area 3. They provided training for nine different army branches and was of the most comprehensive schools of its kind in the world. They provide training for:
African Americans at Camp Columbia Read More »
At the Yeronga Memorial Park in Brisbane the American WACS are also commemorated. There are still plans underway to also add a plaque to the Commemoration Wall at the Memorial for the Dutch and KNIL women (Royal Netherlands East Indies Army). However, there were objections as this memorial is just for Australian Forces. Since then
Acknowledging the Women Army Corps in operating from Brisbane in WWII Read More »
The Old Fellow’s War. Edmund Nyst 2007 These are abstracts from the book as researched by Ruby Todorovski for the Queensland University Archaeological Research Project Camp Columbia Wacol. P132 Born 1927. Father was Dutch consul in Marseilles. Mother was American. Lived in Marseilles until after German occupation in 1942. Joined the resistance and in September
Edmund Nyst – Dutch soldier at Camp Columbia Read More »
Patricia (Pat) Metcalfe (born 1929 in Cairns) moved to Brisbane when she was 4 years old and after she finished the St Columba school at Wilson, was employed at Camp Columbia as a typist and secretary, first with the Americans and since 1945 with the Netherlands-East-Indies Government. Here she worked for the Department of Works
Patricia Metcalfe – Typist, Wim van Wely – Dutch Motor Pool Read More »
By her son David Hill. Joan McConachy was a secretary at Camp Columbia, Brisbane working for the Dutch Army as she later told her son David. Joan was born in 1924 at Winton (Central West QLD) and moved to Brisbane around 1943 from the then family home (Cattle Station), “Dotswood” at Charters Towers in Far
Joan McConachy – secretary at the Dutch Army at Camp Columbia Read More »
Willy de Eerens Willy de Eerens was born on 27 February 1921 in Tjilatjap, an important port on the south coast of Java. During the Japanese invasion he was evacuated to Australia as one of the 99 student pilots from the class of 1 July 1941 of the Vlieg- en Waarnemersschool (V.W.S. – Flying and
The story Willy de Eerens and the dog tag found at Camp Columbia Read More »
