CALVERT ORDNANCE DEPOT
CALVERT, QLD
DURING WW2

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The Queensland Main Roads Commission built an Ammunition Depot for the United States Army at Calvert in the Ipswich district during WW2. They built 9 miles of main road (18 feet wide), and 9 miles of side road (16 feet wide). They carried out clearing and grubbing in preparation for the construction of a motor park and tent area. 120 Aliens assisted other men with the construction of this Ammunition Depot at a total cost of £206, 960. The Calvert Ordnance Depot was run by the 580th Ordnance Ammunition Company, an African-American unit.

Keith Beil has a 40 acre property at Rosewood which has four parallel gravel roads approximately 22 metres apart crossing it. There is a graded line about half way between each of the roads, possibly for drainage. One of the neighbouring properties of 2,000 acres is also criss-crossed with an extensive network of very well made gravel roads complete with drainage pipes dating back to WW2. The old camp is situated on UDB Map 209 and is located to the south of Western Creek in the vicinity of Kuss Road at Mount Walker. The extremities of the camp extend from Kuss Road near Lanefield Railway Station, Grant Road and extends almost to the Hiddenvale Road at Calvert. Keith estimates that the camp was about 5 kms by 5 kms in size covering about 5,000 acres. The roads on Keith's property are still in very good condition.

Keith advised that there were a few concrete slabs about 40 ft by 40 ft either side of Kuss Road not far from the Waters Road intersection. This camp was not far from the old Lanefield Railway Station near Rosewood. The Railway Station has been dismantled in recent times. It was located on the western side of Lane Road near the intersection with Waters Road (UBD Map 209, Ref. L17). 

Lt. Folkert and a detachment of 49 Enlisted Men from the 577th Ordnance Ammunition Company were on Detached Service at the Calvert Ordnance Depot from 14 Oct 1943 until 28 Jan 1944.

The October 1943 Military Phone book for Brisbane shows the following entries:-

BASE SECTION THREE

ORDNANCE (Perry House)

AMMUNITION DIVISION

Capt. Mosher, C.A.

Darra: Ordnance Depot
    Capt. Wineland

Calvert Ordnance Depot:
    Capt Sheriff

The May 1944 Military Phone book for Brisbane shows the following entries:-

BASE SECTION THREE

        ORDNANCE AMMUNITION SECTION

Calvert Ordnance Depot:
    580th Ord. Amm. Co.
        Commanding Officer:
            Capt. Sheriff F.A.

 

BOOK REFERENCES

"The History of the Queensland Main Roads Commission during World War II, 1939 - 1945"

NATIONAL ARCHIVES RECORDS

Title: Calvert Ordnance Dump - Parish of Ferguson, County of Churchill 
Series number: J1018 
Control symbol: LS1036 
Contents date range: circa 1944 - circa 1944 
Access status: Open
Location: Brisbane
Barcode No: 1694354

Title: Calvert - Layout of US Camp, Parish of Ferguson, County of Churchill 
Series number: J1018 
Control symbol: LS980
Contents date range: 1944 - 1944 
Access status: Open
Location: Brisbane
Barcode No: 904232

 

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This page first produced 20 May 2001

This page last updated 22 February 2020