On Friday 15 August 2025, the Chair of the Camp Columbia Heritage Association (CCHA) attended the official 80th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific (VP Day) commemoration in Brisbane at the invitation of Cr Sarah Hutton, who represented Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner at the event. The event was hosted by the Board of the General […]
VP Day 2025 commemoration in Brisbane Read More »
We are pleased to share a feature article , now available on the website of our researcher Ingeborg van Teeseling: Australia Explained. This comprehensive piece brings together historical insights and personal recollections to highlight the unique international role of Camp Columbia during and after World War II. From American and Dutch military operations to the
Camp Columbia – a wartime crossroads on Brisbane’s doorstep Read More »
The University of Queensland is a supporter of the Camp Columbia Heritage Association. They have conducted archeologic research at the site of the former camp. The St Lucia Campus was during WII the HQ of the South-West Pacific Area (SWPA) Advanced Land Headquarters led by Australian General Thomas Blamey, who was Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Military Forces
WWII Symposium Allied co-operation in Brisbane moved to UQ St Lucia Read More »
In 1944, the United States War Department published a small but detailed booklet titled Pocket Guide to the Netherlands East Indies. Produced as part of a broader series of cultural guides for American troops deployed overseas, this 80 pages booklet was designed to familiarise servicemen with the geography, people, customs, and political structure of the
The 1944 US Military Pocket Guide to the Netherlands East Indies Read More »
At its peak the US Navy had almost 6500 personnel stationed in Brisbane during 1944. Of these 685 were commissioned officers. Brisbane offered few entertainment venues for visiting or stationed officers, and a decision was made by the Commander Service Force, Seventh Fleet to construct an Officers Mess. Through the Australian Army Hiring Service, the
Camp Columbia Army Huts ended up at Merthyr Bowls Club, at New Farm Read More »
During the Second World War, Camp Meeandah played a crucial but often overlooked role in Brisbane’s contribution to the Allied war effort in the Pacific. Located near Pinkenba, on the northern banks of the Brisbane River, it was developed as part of the United States Army’s Service of Supply (USASOS) network, which supported General Douglas
Camp Meeandah – a key American logistics hub in Brisbane Read More »
The Battle of Brisbane, a violent two-night clash between Australian and American servicemen in November 1942, remains one of the most extraordinary and yet under-discussed episodes of Allied wartime friction. In Australia—particularly in Brisbane—it has entered popular memory as a moment of explosive resentment toward the dominant American presence. In the United States, however, it
The Battle of Brisbane: Two sides of the same riot Read More »
Even in Brisbane, the global importance of the city’s role during World War II is largely unknown. Yes, most people are aware that large numbers of American troops were stationed here, and many will recall the so-called “Battle of Brisbane”—but for most, that’s the extent of their knowledge of Brisbane’s wartime significance. As I delved
Overlooked outpost: Brisbane and Camp Columbia in American WWII literature Read More »
During the Second World War, Brisbane served as a major Allied base in the Southwest Pacific Area, hosting General Douglas MacArthur’s General Headquarters (GHQ) and becoming the centre of a vast network of land, air, and naval operations. For the United States Navy, Brisbane was not just a staging point—it was the command and logistical
US Navy activities in Brisbane during the Second World War Read More »
Admiral Thomas Cassin Kinkaid played a critical yet often underappreciated role in the Pacific Theatre during the Second World War. As commander of the United States Navy’s Seventh Fleet, Kinkaid found himself in a highly unusual position: a senior naval officer operating under the authority of an army general—General Douglas MacArthur—in the Southwest Pacific Area
Admiral Kinkaid and General MacArthur – a fragile wartime alliance Read More »
Peter Dunn came across this document from the ‘History of Base Section 3’. It provides interesting insights into the construction of Camp Columbia. Regarding ‘Base Section 3’, during World War II, the U.S. Army’s Services of Supply (USASOS) in the Southwest Pacific Area organised Australia into several base sections for administrative purposes. Base Section 3
Construction costs Camp Columbia £250,000 Read More »
This important part of local and Queensland history is now owned by the National Trust. On the river at Wacol, hay- way between Ipswich and Brisbane, it was established in 1852 by Dr Stephen Simpson, Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Moreton Bay colony. During WW 11, part of the property was taken to build
Wolston House – Wacol Read More »
This list is produced by Peter Rasey for the Australian American Ass. Qld. Division with the input and assistance of the late Sir Frank Moore AO, Don Cameron AM, and Rick Jefferies OAM. CCHA has been given permission to publish this on their website and invite people to provide correction, updates or additions. Peter Rasey
WWII Sites in Brisbane Read More »
The Pensacola Convoy, officially designated Task Force South Pacific, was a significant U.S. military operation during the early days of World War II. Originally en route to reinforce U.S. bases in the Philippines, the convoy was redirected to Australia following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. The convoy departed Pearl Harbor
The Pensacola Convoy – very first American soldiers arrive in Brisbane Read More »
Segregation as brought to Brisbane with the US troops. The US Army formed coloured troops into coloured units (which were not armed-always transport and labour units), housed them in separate camps (e.g. Camp Freeman in. Richlands) and prevented them from entering the Brisbane ‘CBD (West End across the river was designated their Reg.R area). NB-The
Racism in the Army Read More »
On December 22, 1947, Brisbane honored fallen American servicemen with a solemn ceremony. A coffin representing an unknown American soldier was paraded on a gun carriage through King George Square, halting in front of City Hall. Dignitaries, including officers from the Australian Commonwealth Government, Brisbane City Council, various patriotic organisations, and the American Consul, laid
Solemn ceremony to farewell fallen American soldiers Read More »
During World War II, Brisbane emerged as a pivotal hub for Allied submarine operations in the Pacific theater. The city’s strategic location facilitated the establishment of bases by the United States Navy, the Royal Netherlands Navy, and later the British Royal Navy. United States Navy Submarine Operations In April 1942, the U.S. Navy established a
Brisbane critical role in submarine warfare Read More »
Brisbane played a pivotal role as a strategic hub for Allied communication networks during World War II, hosting critical radio transmitting and receiving stations that facilitated the exchange of intelligence, operational orders, and coordination across the Pacific theatre. Managed by the United States Army Signal Corps, these facilities were complemented by independent networks operated by
Radio Communication in Brisbane During World War II Read More »
Brisbane’s significance as a naval port was exemplified by its shipbuilding capacity and the deployment of vessels that shaped the war’s outcome. Evans Deakin & Co Ltd, located in the city, was a prominent shipyard that built numerous vessels for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), including the Bathurst-class corvettes. These versatile ships, designed for minesweeping,
Brisbane’s role in Allied naval efforts. Read More »
