During the Second World War, Camp Columbia at Wacol was more than the headquarters of General MacArthur’s Sixth Army. It also housed the American Officer Candidate School, a facility with classrooms, lecture halls and barracks that trained thousands of young Allied officers. When the Netherlands Indies Government-in-Exile moved to Australia in 1942, the Dutch quickly […]
During the Second World War, the Mount Coot-tha Reserve was transformed into a major United States Navy installation. From 1943 the area was leased by the Americans and developed into the US Naval Magazine and Mine Assembly Depot No. 1 . The 55th U.S. Naval Construction Battalion, better known as the Seabees, built the facilities.
Americans at Mount Coot-tha during World War II Read More »
Memories of Camp Columbia: Jan Staal’s account of 1945 The memoirs of Colonel Jan Staal (Royal Netherlands Air Force, retired), who had earlier served as a captain-pilot-observer with the Military Aviation of the Netherlands East Indies (ML-KNIL), offer a rare first-hand account of Camp Columbia in Brisbane at the close of the Second World War.
Rare insights into the Dutch occupation of Camp Columbia in 1945 Read More »
In October 2024, Dutch journalist and copywriter Jorien Wallast published a groundbreaking work titled Saluut Batavia: Het verhaal van de vrouwelijke KNIL-soldaten (Salute Batavia: The story of the female KNIL soldiers), offering a rare window into a little-known facet of Dutch post-war military history. This non-fiction book explores the experience of young women who joined
Saluut Batavia – Uncovering the untold story of female KNIL soldiers in Indonesia Read More »
In several of the personal stories on our website we come across issues regarding the rationing of goods. The following information is an abstract from July 2025 bulletin from the Royal Historical Society of Queensland. During the Second World War (1939 – 1945), Australia, in common with other Allied nations, rationed important commodities, including food,
Food and goods rationing in Brisbane during WWII 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 »
The Camp Columbia Heritage Association (CCHA) is pleased to share the recordings from our international symposium Allied Co-operation in Brisbane during WWII: Australia, USA, Netherlands, UK, held on 30–31 August 2025 at The University of Queensland, St Lucia. The event marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in the Pacific and
Videos: Relive the symposium in minutes—or dive deep. Read More »
Delegates on the WWII Brisbane bus tour gathered at Pooh Corner Bushland Reserve, the site of the former Camp Columbia. Over tea and coffee generously hosted by Wolston & Centenary Catchments (WaCC), Paul Budde gave a short orientation on Camp Columbia’s wartime footprint and today’s conservation efforts before we walked to the recently by Brisbane
Symposium delegates visit the site of the former Camp Columbia 1/9/2025 Read More »
Turning commemoration into opportunity: defence ties in 2027, global heritage in 2032 The Allied Co-operation in Brisbane during WWII: Australia, USA, Netherlands, UK symposium, held at the University of Queensland on 30–31 August 2025, brought together a full house of delegates, historians, community representatives, and descendants to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of
From Symposium to Strategy: Securing Brisbane’s Place as WWII Allied Capital Read More »
At the upcoming “Allied Co-operation in Brisbane during WWII” International Symposium, to be held on 30–31 August 2025 at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus, visitors will have a unique opportunity to view a remarkable historical artefact: a 19th-century ceremonial sword from the Netherlands East Indies. This will be the first time the sword
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 »
Hendrik Johan de Haas was born in Batavia (now Jakarta) on 28 November 1904, the son of Jozef Hendrik de Haas and Johanna Frederika Susanna Jostein. He married Hendrina Maria van der Meer Mohr in Batoeroesa on 2 January 1911. The couple had two children: Robert Johan (born 28 December 1932, died 15 November 1937)
Hendrik Johan de Haas – Dutch officer at NEFIS Camp Columbia Read More »
During World War II, Brisbane was home to the Advanced Land Headquarters (Adv LHQ) of the South West Pacific Area, established at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus in August 1942. The headquarters operated from the unfinished Forgan Smith and Chemistry buildings, which were repurposed for military planning and operations. Adv LHQ was led
The Australian military HQ in Brisbane Read More »
We are proud to announce that the Lord Mayor of Brisbane will host an official civic reception in honour of the Camp Columbia Heritage Association on the eve of our international WWII symposium. This prestigious event will take place at Brisbane City Hall, in the Balmoral Room, on Friday 29 August 2025 from 5.30pm to
Lord Mayor to host civic reception in honour of Camp Columbia Heritage Association Read More »
Symposium: Allied co-operation in Brisbane during WWII – Book Here In Australia, the global significance of Brisbane’s role during World War II is still not widely understood. Most Australians know that American forces were based here, and some may recall the so-called “Battle of Brisbane.” But few realise that Brisbane served as the most important
Brisbane’s overlooked wartime legacy: the forgotten Allied capital of Australia Read More »
Explore Brisbane’s hidden WWII history on a full-day guided tour through key military and cultural sites across the city — from inner-city command centres to outer suburban camps like Camp Columbia. This unique event forms part of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Pacific commemorations, including the International Symposium on Allied Cooperation in Brisbane
WWII Heritage Bus Tour: Brisbane’s Forgotten Frontline Read More »
This compelling first-person account, written by her daughter Claire Smith-Burns, traces the remarkable wartime journey of Anna Wiebrigje Beetstra, a Dutch-Canadian woman who served in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) during the final years of World War II. Born in Friesland in 1923 and raised in British Columbia, Anne was inspired to join
KNIL soldier Anne Beetstra: A Dutch-Canadian woman at Camp Columbia, 1944–46 Read More »
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr Jonathan (Jack) Ford on 29 June 2025, at his home in Brisbane. Jack had recently returned from hospital following heart treatment and, when we last spoke two days before his untimely death, he told me that the new medication had given him a
Vale Dr Jonathan (Jack) Ford Read More »
During most of World War II, the port of Brisbane was dominated by the United States Navy. The British Royal Navy (RN) only established a significant operational presence in Brisbane in 1945, as part of the British Pacific Fleet’s activities toward the end of the war. HMAS Moreton was commissioned behind today’s QUT on 1
British Naval Presence in Brisbane During WWII Read More »
For outcomes of the symposium see: From Symposium to Strategy: Securing Brisbane’s Place as WWII Allied Capital 2025 marks 80 years since the end of World War II in the Pacific—a defining moment in global history and in Brisbane’s legacy as a key Allied command centre. To commemorate this milestone, the Camp Columbia Heritage Association
