Queensland Detachment, Australian Army Canteens Service AACS

Queensland Detachment, Australian Army Canteens Service
Previously Queensland Detachment, Australian Defence Canteens Service
Previously Queensland L of C Area Canteens
Previously Northern Command Defence Canteen Service
in Australia during WWII

Northern Command Defence Canteen Service was formed in 1940 to take over canteens at Training Depots that were then being operated by others. They were reorganised in July 1942 and became Queensland L of C Area Canteens with their Headquarters located at Clark Street, Brisbane.

After expanding considerably, they became Queensland Detachment, Australian Defence Canteens Service ADCS in September 1943. Their strength at that time was:-

22 Officers
834 male Ordinary Ranks
261 AWAS

By November 1943, they had the following installations:-

4 bulk depots
32 issuing points
2 aerated water (cordial) factories
69 dry canteens
35 wet canteens
7 cafeterias
3 milk bars
6 barbers
1 snack bar
1 buffet
1 billiard room
4 Officer’s Clubs
2 Ordinary Ranks clubs

From January 1944, they also started to supply the POW Control Centres (PWCCs) from mobile canteens.

In February 1944, they were reorganised again and became Queensland Detachment, Australian Army Canteens Service AACS. By that time their strength was:-

35 Officers
1,015 male Ordinary Ranks
372 AWAS

Queensland Detachment, AACS reached its peak numbers in October 1944, with a total of 1,619 personnel. A separate Detachment was then raised to accompany 1 Australian Corps to Borneo. When the 6th Infantry Division left for Aitape, New Guinea in late 1944 a detachment of AACS accompanied them and joined up with New Guinea Section, AACS.

After 1 Australia Corps and 1 Base Sub Area left for Borneo in early 1945 some of the Queensland Canteens closed and by April 1945, Queensland Detachment, Australian Army Canteens Service had reduced down to 1,421 personnel.

AACS on the Atherton Tableland area

In about November 1943, the 54th Australian Deputy Commander Royal Engineers (Works) supervised Queensland Building and Engineering Company which erected a large Igloo storage shed 200 feet x 100 feet at the Atherton Show Grounds for the Allied Works Council. The igloo became Issuing Point No. 7 for Queensland Detachment, Australian Army Canteens Service. See the igloo at the top right hand side of the plan below.

Plan:- NAA

Plan of Atherton Show Grounds showing AACS Issuing Point 7

Photo:- AWM 061325

AACS Issuing Point 7 igloo being constructed at the
Atherton Show Grounds on 26 November 1943

Photo:- AWM 061330

Carpenters working on the roof trusses of the AACS Issuing
Point 7 igloo at the Atherton Show Grounds on 26 November 1943

In May 1944, it was decided to establish clubs at each of the camps occupied by 1 Australian Corps. Queensland Detachment, Australian Army Canteens Service serviced the following clubs and the various canteens in all the camps around the Atherton Tableland:-

Atherton
3 AACS Officers Club at Barron Valley Hotel
18 AACS ORs Club at Sharples Theatre

Wondecla
28 AACS Officers Club
24 AACS ORs Club

Ravenshoe
27 AACS Officers Club
25 AACS ORs Club at Ravenshoe

Kairi
Officers used the Atherton Officer's Club
23 AACS ORs Club

The Wondecla and Ravenshoe clubs were closed by April 1945. 3 AACS Officers Club at Barron Valley Hotel was inoperative by July 1945.

Photo:- AWM 056724

The AWM captions describes this as the Australian Army Canteen
Services Canteen in Atherton on 17 August 1943. I wonder if this is
18 AACS ORs Club in Sharples Theatre on Main Street, Atherton

Photo:- AWM 066417

The AWM captions this as the Australian Army Canteen Services ORs Club
showing the dance hall at right in the course of construction on 11 May 1944.
This supports my belief that this is 18 AACS ORs Club in Sharples Theatre

Photo:- AWM 058975

Newly opened Cordial Factory in Atherton run by the AACS on 28 Oct 1943

Photo:- AWM 059391

AACS staff checking bottles for kerosene and oil before placing
them in washing machines at Atherton on 28 October 1943

The former Issuing Point No. 7 Igloo was purchased by the Atherton Tableland Agricultural Society after the war at a bargain price. It eventually became the Atherton Community Centre after the Atherton Shire Hall burnt down in 1948.

Today the Igloo is known as Merriland Hall and its address is listed as Mazlin Street, Atherton. Miss Ellen Burke won a competition in July 1950 to nominate a suitable name for the former WWII Igloo and its dance floor. A brick frontage was added to the front of the Igloo in 1958.