Townsville Harbour during WW2

Townsville was seen as a very strategic location in northern Australia during WWII and many large Army camps, storage and ammunition depots and airfields were built in the surrounding area. This led to Townsville Harbour as well as the Queensland Railway network being particularly busy. Over 1,000,000 tonnes of war supplies passed through Townsville Harbour up to 1943.

The Australian Army "Defence of Townsville" document states the follow:- "The approach to Townsville Harbour is by a dredged channel 28 - 31 feet deep at high water and 22 feet deep at low water south-east if Magnetic Island."

A number of dredging ships carried out dredging operations in early 1942. Further dredging was carried out by the Morwong towards the end of of 1943 and the Cleveland Bay in early 1944. The first dredging work consisted largely of extensions to the entrance channel of the harbour to meet a contingency which did not actually arise. i.e. the sending of major vessels to Townsville. The Townsville Harbour Board (THB) indicated that it would never have contemplated such dredging for many years to come and should it ultimately dredge the extension, the whole area would have to be traversed again. The work done by the dredgers was somewhat irregular and came to an abrupt unexpected and premature conclusion at the end of April 1942, owing to the visiting dredgers being recalled for security reasons, leaving the dredging in an uncompleted state.

The dredging carried out by the suction dredge Morwong towards the end of 1943 consisted of work in the Platypus Channel and in the Harbour. Two extra dredges were employed to deepen the Platypus Shipping Channel. The Morwong left for Brisbane before the work was completed and under instructions from the Allied Works Council, the Cleveland Bay was, early in 1944, put on the job. No account had been rendered for this service by the Cleveland Bay. THB recommended after the war, that the Federal Co-ordinator General be advised that the dredging carried out as a war emergency measure and not under the THB's control, cannot be regarded as having any value to the THB.

Townsville Harbour with swimming enclosure on the The Strand in
the vicinity of the Tobruk Memorial Baths.

Townsville Harbour with eleven ships moored in Cleveland Bay.
A Flying boat can be seen taxiing away from the harbour entrance

Despite the harbour workforce working double shifts, it was very common to see many ships carrying military cargoes anchored in Cleveland Bay, as can be seen in the above photo, waiting to access the limited berths in Townsville Harbour. A Green Beacon light was located at the end of the western breakwater and a Red Beacon light was located at the end of the eastern breakwater.

The Senior Officer at the Controlled Mining (Observation) Station in Townsville was Sub Lieutenant William Henry Cunningham Bravington. Sub Lieutenant Terence James McGuigan was in charge of the Batteries, engines, and electrical equipment and also took turns as the Officer of the Day O.O.D. Sub Lieutenant T. A. Stephen was in charge of the stores and equipment and also took turns as the O.O.D. Able Seaman Arthur Oscar Normandale (PM/V161) was in charge of general disciplinary duties and regulating the watchkeepers.

A Controlled (Observation) Minefield, code named "Operation Pearl", was installed in the entrance to Townsville Harbour in 1942I to afford protection against midget submarine attacks. The mines were laid to ensure that the minimum depth of water in the entrance channel was not reduced below 26 feet at Low Water Ordinary Springs. The plan below shows there were 5 lines of mines covering the Platypus Channel with 3 mines in each line, each 100 feet apart. The Mine Control Station was located at the end of the eastern breakwater. Lines 1, 3 and 5 covered the main Platypus Channel while lines 2 and 4 covered the track of any craft trying to get past on the edges of the main channel.

A Mine Watching Organisation was established by the Royal Australian Navy in Townsville during WWII. It is believed that the small concrete bunkers situated on the two breakwaters in Townsville may have been used by Mine Watching personnel. The object of the Mine watching organisation was to locate the position of mines dropped in rivers or coastal areas from enemy aircraft, so that action could be taken to clear the shipping channel with minimum delay and to prevent movements of ships in known danger areas. I've included a photo further below of a Mine Watching bunker on the Brisbane River during WWII.

Close-up of the first photo above. Does anyone have any close-up
photos of the small bunkers on the Townsville Breakwaters?

The above photo shows the western breakwater with a small white concrete bunker visible at the far left. The steel structure at the end was most likely the support stand for the green beacon light. There was a red beacon light at the end of the eastern breakwater. There is a platform of some sort between the bunker and the steel structure.

The small white concrete bunker can be seen at the left.
Not sure what the black object is in the middle of the photo.

General view of Townsville Harbour in 1955 - see close-up below of
the Mine Watching bunkers which can be seen in this photo

Townsville Harbour 1955. Note the bunker on the western breakwater
and three different types of structures on the eastern breakwater.

Note the small concrete bunker on the shorter Eastern
Breakwater with Magnetic Island in the background

The above photo is of the USS Prince William delivering P-47 Thunderbolts to Townsville on 7/8 May 1944. They were towed through the streets of Townsville from the Harbour to Depot No 2 at Mount Louisa.

Kerry Bridgland while working on the deck of a ship in Townsville Harbour sometime between 1967 and 1971 witnessed the bunker on the western breakwater being blown up.

The two storey Port War Signal Station looked out directly over the main shipping assembly point in Cleveland Bay between Townsville and Magnetic Island. The PWSS would identify all ships wanting to enter the Townsville Harbour before allowing them to proceed. When a ship could not be identified, it was required to proceed to the Examination Anchorage point which was "protected" by the 155mm howitzers guns of the Examination Battery. The RAN personnel on board the Port Examination Services ship HMAS Magnetic (ex-MV Pagrus) (See Examination Services below) would then inspect and clear the shop to enter the Townsville Harbour.

No. 1 = Flagstaff Hill (Pilot Hill) and No. 2 = Magazine Hill
The numbers are located just to the right of the locations

Flagstaff Hill is located at the centre of this aerial photo, more or less opposite the old
RAAF Marine building. The hill was demolished sometime between 1952 and 1959.
The large building above Flagstaff Hill is believed to be the Boom Defence Shed.

Flagstaff Hill beside Ross Creek with Magazine Hill seen in the rear at the left. Date unknown.

The MV Pagrus became the name ship for the Shore Establishment HMAS Magnetic in Townsville as she was the tender vessel to HMAS Magnetic. So MV Pagrus became known as HMAS Magnetic which meant there were two HMAS Magnetics, one a ship and one a shore establishment. HMAS Magnetic (ex MV Pagrus) served as a channel patrol boat and Examination Vessel for the Royal Australian Navy's Port War Signalling Station RAN 22 in Townsville until September 1943.

In the twelve months between July 1943 and June 1944, HMAS Magnetic (MV Pagrus) cleared 1756 merchant vessels.

The Navigation Order was promulgated in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on Friday 12 November 1943. It gave Guy Charles Cecil Royle, the Chief of the Naval Staff certain powers with respect to the movement of vessels into ports.

The following is an extract from the Second Schedule of the Navigation Order which required the master of a merchant vessel or person in charge of a small craft to comply with any instructions specified in the Second Schedule in respect of a port.

Second Schedule Port of Townsville - No. 20 Chart B.A. 1102
Naval Authority	The Naval Officer-in-charge, Naval Staff Office, Townsville. Telegraphic Address: Naval Office, Townsville Telephone: Townsville 1890
Port Limits	All the sea area inwards of a line drawn for Cape Cleveland to the north-east point of Magnetic Island, thence westward along the shore to West Point, thence to Cape Pallarenda on the mainland.
Examination Anchorage	Vessels will be directed to the examination anchorage by the examining officer.
Pilot:-	Embarked In incoming vessels - at the examination anchorage
	Employed Between the examination anchorage and the berth to be occupied by the vessel.
	Disembarked By vessels leaving the port - when vessels are clear of the entrance to the harbour.
Position of Port Closed Signal	Close to the 550' summit in the north-east corner of Magnetic Island
Position of Signal Prohibiting Sailing	At the Flagstaff on Flagstaff Hill
Position of Signal Station	Close to the 550' summit in the north east corner of Magnetic Island
Prohibited anchorages	Position - (a) Fixed green light at the head of the western breakwater - Lat. 19� 15' S., Long. 146� 50' E. (approx). (1) Limits of Area - From (a) above in a 075� direction to the fixed red light at the head of the eastern breakwater, thence in a 090� direction for 1.17 cables, thence in a 000� direction for 2.17 cables to No. 1 black beacon, thence in a 270� direction for 2.5 cables, thence in a 180� direction to (a). (2) Limits of Area - From a position on the shore 258� distant 1.17 miles from (a) above, in a 039� direction for 4.2 miles, thence in a 323�? direction to the shore at Kissing Point, thence southward along the high water line to the point of commencement.
Instructions	Platypus Channel only is to be used, but local coast vessels may be permitted by the examining officer to proceed outward via West Channel during daylight hours.
Dated this 26th day of October, 1943 G.C.C. Royle Chief of the Naval Staff

Two 155mm M1917 Grande Puissance Filloux (GPF) French made guns on Carriage M3 on Panama Mounts were in use at Magazine Battery at Townsville Harbour during WWII. "D" Australian Heavy Battery left Skirmish Battery on Bribie Island and arrived at the Townsville railway station at 10pm on 5 May 1943 and moved to the Magazine Battery overlooking Townsville Harbour. Magazine Hill was originally on what was known as Magazine Island. Magazine Battery was used as the Examination Battery for Townsville Harbour.

On 19 November 1943, "D" Australian Heavy Battery completed preparations to hand over the Magazine Battery to "U" Australian Heavy Battery. At 2pm on 22 November 1943, 5 officers and 111 other ranks boarded a ship for Buna. �F� Australian Heavy Battery (Coast) was based at Magazine Battery from February 1943 to May 1944 using the same 155mm guns.

By early December 1943 "U" Australian Heavy Battery arrived at Magazine Battery for further intensive training, including sub-calibre coastal shoots. By February 1944, "U" Australian Heavy Battery commenced training in using the 155mm gun in a field role culminating in immediate neutralisation and destruction shoots at a range of 10,000 yards. On 19 April 1944 "U" Australian Heavy Battery left Magazine Battery and embarked on HMT Katoomba and sailed for Buna via Milne Bay, New Guinea.

Battery "H" of 197th Coast Artillery (AA) Bofors on the walls of the reclamation pool area

50 caliber and 37mm American Anti-aircraft guns
around the Townsville Harbour area in August 1942

In September 1942, the Townsville Harbour Board declined to install a submarine net across the harbour entrance between the two breakwaters suggesting that the Navy was better equipped to look after that matter.

In September 1942 a preliminary design for a single line Anti/Torpedo - Anti/Boat defence ( A/T - A/B defence) was drawn up for Townsville Harbour. The American Bureau of Ordnance prepared a design also for a single line A/T - A/B Boom. This design was received in November 1942.

In October 1942 the proposed A/T - A/B Boom was approved in principal. A proposal by Naval Staff to fit Bottom Nets proved to be impracticable.

In April 1944 owing to the strategic situation at the time and as no work had been done on the erection of the dolphins etc, the project was cancelled. Material supplied by the USA was returned and local material was stored.

The Boom Defence Depot Building, including the large store building were erected by military authorities during WWII without any consultation with THB. The buildings were located near the reclamation pool with the Boom Defence shed being just north of Flagstaff Hill. The buildings were abandoned because the Boom Defence Scheme was abandoned in April 1944. THB could see no official cognizance of any possible use of the Boom Defence Store as a substitute for No. 2 Shed. The building was dimensionally unsuitable for the purpose and too high for a cargo shed and it lacked any suitable side entrances.

At the THB meeting on 21 November 1945, an offer was tabled from the Commonwealth Disposals Commission for the sale of the buildings at Pilot Hill erected for the Boom Defence Storage and observation purposes by the Navy during WWII. The Commission also asked if THB was interested in the purchase of the Naval Observation Post at Pilot Hill.

THB at it meeting on 8 September 1948 decided that no use could be found at the present time for the Boom Defence Shed which was offered to THB by the RAN.

At the THB meeting on 8 June 1949, a letter was read from the Department of the Interior confirming the sale to the THB of the wartime Boom Defence Shed for �1,150. The Chairman of THB advised that they had already leased the shed to TREB for �4/10/- per week.

At a meeting of Magnetic Island's Arcadian Progress Association on Sunday 10 September 1950, the Association agreed to install a shark proof net across Alma Bay on Magnetic Island to protect the bathers there. The Association had obtained a submarine net which is believed to have been part of the cancelled Boom Defence Net for Townsville Harbour during WWII. A cable to suspend the net from had been obtained from Mount Isa. The cost of the work to install the shark proof net was estimated to be about �200. Arthur Keers was asked to organise the raising of the necessary �200.

In early 1942 the Commonwealth Government had made plans to be ready to destroy our harbours and airfields. This was at the time leading up to the Battle of the Coral Sea. There was a great fear that the Japanese were about to invade Australia.

The District Works Supervisor, Department of Interior (Works and Services Branch), Townsville sent a letter to the Townsville Harbour Board on 16 March 1942, stating that he had been instructed by the Army, Northern Command, to arrange for the boring of 200 holes in 100 piles of the concrete pier, nearest the shore end of the wharf, and that he had arranged for the Main Roads Commission to undertake the work. The Townsville Harbour Board replied:-

The Australian Army's 5th Division a short time later developed extensive Demolition Plans to destroy facilities at Townsville Harbour to deny their use to the enemy should an invasion become imminent.

On 16 March 1942, the Department of the Interior wrote another "Most Secret" letter to the Townsville Harbour Board, stating that they had been instructed by the Army, Northern Command, to have certain anchorages placed at the Jetty entrance to enable ships to be held there in order to block the entrance if it became necessary owing to enemy action. The Townsville Harbour Board agreed to the request and large bollards were concreted into the stone breakwaters at both sides of the entrance. They were secured by large back stays. Two concrete mine spotting posts were also erected adjacent to to the above bollards along with a timber structure on the concrete pier.

The Demolition Plans included blocking the entrance to Townsville Harbour by sinking the
dredge "Cleveland Bay", three THB Hopper barges and two Commonwealth light vessels

The State Defence Camouflage Committee sent a letter to the Townsville Harbour Board on 10 June 1942, requesting that the Board carry out camouflage work on the walls and roofs of cargo sheds and other buildings as part of the Board's work maintenance program. The Board agreed to carry out this work. This letter was sent just one month prior to the three Japanese bombing raids on Townsville.

A Flying Boat Base was established in Townsville Harbour during WWII. Flying boats would anchor inside the break waters. They would taxii out into Cleveland Bay and use the bay as their alighting field.

No 1 & 2 were Civil Aviation short rubber buoys
Nos 4, 5, 6 & 7 were RAAF buoys.
Anchorage area was used for Catalina Flying Boats

Townsville Flying Boat Base. Note the two Dornier Flying Boats anchored in the
Townsville Harbour. Photo taken from the deck of USS Copahee on 25 Sep 1943.

The Naval Workshop and adjoining Naval Depot, HMAS Magnetic, was built on reclaimed land (Reserves 166 and 306 owned by the Townsville Harbour Board THB) at the junction of the Strand with the western Breakwater, near the Harbour Board's mechanical workshop. It was used to overhaul naval vessels, particularly corvettes. The Naval repair staff were under the command of Lieutenant Commander "Jock" Webster.

The Naval Workshop was built by the Allied Works Council at a cost of �13,000. Plans were submitted to the THB before construction had commenced and general arrangements were made to suit the THB's requirements. It was originally suggested that the building be built adjacent to the slipway (perhaps David's Foundry Slipway mentioned above?), but it was pointed out that most repair work was done off the slip and therefore the provision of a workshop adjacent to the slipway would not be essential. THB went on to indicate that if the building was located at a convenient site for the THB's operations, then the THB would be prepared to take over the building at the conclusion of the Navy's requirements for the building. The Townsville Harbour Board took over the Naval Workshop buildings after they were vacated by the Navy.

The Chief Engineer of the THB, Mr. H. G. Jenkinson, valued the building at �6,000 in about January/February 1946. Mr. H. G. Jenkinson reported in early February 1946 that the THB had communicated with the Naval Department in Melbourne about taking over the building but no acknowledgement had been received.

The site of the former Townsville Harbour Board building was located where the Magnetic Island Ferry Terminal is today. The Townsville Harbour Board building was knocked down in the late 1980s when Hayle's Ferry Terminal was relocated from Flinders Street East.

The Naval Workshop was on the upstream side of the RAAF Marine Section buildings (6 TMO)

A wood and iron building know as the Naval Armament Store was located at the shore end of the Cleveland Bay Wool Dumping Shed. The building of 100 squares was suitable for storage and was equipped with a loading bay. The THB recommended that an offer of �1,000 be made to take over the building.

Arrangement had been made after the war in early 1946 with the State Government through the Member for Townsville to take over this building for �5,000.

This was the THB's Power Station building plus and annexe which had been added by the Department of Interior. It was purchased by the THB after the war.

The new position for this shed was on a Railway Reserve in Perkins Street and was possibly also partially sitting on the Perkins Street alignment. In February 1946, THB indicated that in view of the projected widening of the Eastern Breakwater involving new and wider sheds, THB might possibly be prepared to accept payment of an agreed amount in lieu of restoration. Otherwise the Commonwealth would need to replace the shed, either by repositioning the existing building or building a new one.

Military Authorities removed the front portion of No. 4 shed during WWII. Contrary to the assumptions of the Commonwealth Co-ordinator General, THB had not benefited from this alteration. In about late 1945/early 1946, THB had installed two moveable platforms costing �350 to assist with the handling of sugar from Shed No. 4. THB indicated that Sir Herbert Gepp, Chairman of the Central Cargo Control Committee, had given a written undertaking that the building would be restored to its original layout and the THB had asked for this to happen.

The Defence authorities had built a Dual Purpose Jetty at Townsville Harbour during WWII. The THB indicated that this jetty was considered to be out of place in a modern port. It was very narrow at on 40 feet wide and the inability, for the most part, to dredge the berths to suitable depths by reason of inadequate length of pile used was a concern. THB indicated the jetty may be of some temporary use as a dredge pumping station during the reclamation of the enclosed pool nearby, but on the whole the jetty was considered as a liability to THB rather than an asset. THB indicated they would consider its inclusion as part of a large structure later on, but that this involved difficulty and may be found to be impracticable. THB indicated the best solution would be to ask the Commonwealth Authorities to remove the structure.

Two tank stands were erected by Military Authorities during WWII. One was situates at the town wharf near the THB's offices and was handed over free of charge to THB after the war. The other somewhat similar tank stand was situated near the shore end of the Dual Purpose Jetty. The THB indicated to the Naval Authorities that it was on no value to them.

P-38G Lightning minus wings & propellers towed down Boundary Rd past National Hotel,
then across Sandy Crossing to Depot No.2 on 8 Jan 1943. P-38G #43-2196 of 9FS,
49FG crashed on engine failure after takeoff in New Guinea on 10 Oct 1943

P-38 Lightning being towed over Sandy Crossing near Queens Road on 8 January 1943

An RAAF Vultee Vengeance being towed from Townsville Harbour
along Ingham Road at West End headed for Garbutt Airfield

The first of three Japanese air raids on Townsville occurred on the night of 25/26 July 1942. Two Emily flying Boats (W45 & W46) piloted by Lt. Asai & Lt. Kiyoshi Mizukuru left Rabaul at 4:18 pm on Saturday 25 July 1942.

The two enemy aircraft arrived from NE over Townsville at 11:30 pm unopposed. The Townsville Harbour and city lights were still blazing. They circled town for 30 minutes and then flew out to sea over Cape Cleveland after four searchlights illuminated them. The 208th CA Regiment (AA) guns were not used on orders from the Air Defence Commander.

They returned again at 12:40am and dropped 15 x 250kg bombs 400 yards east of oil tanks at the Townsville Harbour. Only 6 bombs were sighted by those on ground. HMAS Swan, SS Burwah and SS Bantam were docked in Townsville Harbour at the time of the air raid.

National Archives of Australia
"Most Secret Works for Defence - Various Locations in Queensland"
Series number: BP243/1
Control symbol: MS62
Barcode no: 996775

National Archives of Australia
Series No. J1018
Control Symbol LS880
Barcode No. 900126
Series No. J1018
Control Symbol LS880A
Barcode No. 900128

I'd like to thank Bruce Williams, John Perryman, Mel Dundas-Taylor and Kevin Parkes for their assistance with this web page.

I need your help

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