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 during WWII, hosted by the Camp Columbia Heritage Association.
Step into wartime Brisbane
Between 1942 and 1945, Brisbane became a vital command post for Allied operations in the Pacific. Home to General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters, the city was transformed into a hub of military activity involving Australian, American, British, and Dutch forces. This guided tour reveals the lasting impact of the war on the city’s infrastructure, landscape, and cultural memory.
Tour highlights:
- Anzac Square Memorial Galleries – Queensland’s state war memorial
- MacArthur Chambers Museum – preserved headquarters of General MacArthur
- Trade Coast Heritage Centre & Hangar 7 – key US Army Air Force sites and testing facilities
- Camp Columbia, Wacol – major US staging post and headquarters of the Netherlands East Indies government-in-exile
- Drive-by commentary on sites including:
- Camp Ascot
- Air raid shelters
- New Farm Submarine Base
- Newstead House
- Chemical warfare facilities
- Lunch included at the historic Grand Central Hotel
Developed by experts:
Your guides include renowned WWII historians and heritage researchers:
- Dr Jack Ford
- Peter Dunn OAM (ozatwar.com)
- Ethan Devereux-Phillips
Event details:
- Date: Monday, 1 September 2025 (the day after the main symposium)
- Time: 9:30am – 5:15pm
- Cost: $75 per person (includes lunch, museum entries, bus transport)
- Departure/Return: 285 Ann Street (Shrine of Remembrance, Anzac Square)
- Capacity: Strictly limited to 40 delegates – early booking essential
Part of a commemorative program
This bus tour complements the International Symposium on Allied Cooperation in Brisbane during WWII, held 30–31 August 2025 at University of Queensland. Together, these events commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in the Pacific, recognising Brisbane’s vital but often overlooked role in securing Allied victory.