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
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 »
Thanks to the support of the Brisbane City Council’s Lord Mayor’s Better Suburbs Grants program—which funded the display cabinet—and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE)—which supported the design and printing of the interpretive panels—we now have a high-quality heritage display installed at the entrance to the walking tracks in the Pooh Corner Bushland
New heritage display at Pooh Corner Bushland Reserve Read More »
While Brisbane’s role in World War II is often remembered in connection with the large American presence and the headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur, few people today are aware of the significant Dutch wartime presence in the city—or the extraordinary fact that a foreign government operated from Australian soil during the final years of the
The untold Dutch chapter of Brisbane’s wartime history 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 »
Even in Brisbane, the global importance of the city’s role during World War II is largely unknown. While many locals are aware of the large American presence, few know that the Dutch also operated from here during the Pacific War. Even fewer in the Netherlands would be aware of the role their country played in
Forgotten allies: how Brisbane’s WWII history has faded from Dutch memory 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 »
My family moved into a Housing Commission house in the new Inala in the early 1950s. We boys soon found that there was lots of small arms ammo round the area, remnants of the US Ammunition Dump. Finding it and extracting the cordite was a favourite pastime for the local boys, who spent hours combing
UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) Blast Witness-Inala 1954 Read More »
The Camp Columbia Heritage Association (CCHA) supports the Brisbane City Council’s initiative to extend its Streets of Remembrance project. As part of this program, selected new signage of existing streets across the city will have Australian Defence Force, or Australian Navy, or Australian Air Force logos added on to the Street sign to honour significant Veterans, places,
Brisbane City Streets of Remembrance – Community Input Invited Read More »
In Trent Dalton’s critically acclaimed novel Boy Swallows Universe, the reader briefly meets the Orlik family—refugees from war-torn Europe who found shelter at Camp Columbia. Though fictional, their story resonates deeply with the real experiences of thousands of families who passed through this significant site in Brisbane’s history. A place of transition and new beginnings
The Orliks of Boy Swallows Universe and the real migrant story of Camp Columbia Read More »
During the Second World War, Brisbane played a vital role in one of the most extraordinary technological achievements of the 20th century: secure global voice communication. At the heart of this breakthrough was a system known as SIGSALY—a top-secret project developed by the United States to ensure that conversations between Allied leaders could not be
SIGSALY: Brisbane’s role in top-secret wartime communications Read More »
In the darkest days of World War II, as Japanese forces swept through the Pacific, an unconventional group of Australians found themselves at the heart of a daring and vital operation. Known as Mission X, this little-known fleet of small, civilian vessels was assembled under the US Army Small Ships Section, playing a crucial role
Mission X: Australia’s Forgotten Fleet in the Pacific War – Exhibition at Bongaree 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 »
