AMERICAN RED CROSS SERVICE CLUB
CENTENARY HOUSE, CNR EXHIBITION
AND LITTLE COLLINS STREETS
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
DURING WW2
The American Red Cross Headquarters was located in Centenary House on the corner of Exhibition Street and Little Collins Street, Melbourne between 1942 and 1944. The building is now partly owned by the Liberal Party as their Victorian Headquarters.
An article in the Melbourne paper "The Argus" of 28 April 1945, it mentioned that furniture was being taken from the American Red Cross Service Club in Exhibition Street after three years of occupation. It was being taken away in US Army trucks to the 8th floor of 401 Collins Street where the American Red Cross Field Office was to carry on its operations. This was in offices which once comprised a portion of General Douglas MacArthur's General Headquarters, Southwest Pacific Area, GHQ SWPA. Miss Elinor Donner, ARC Field Director and her staff continued with their welfare work and counselling particularly among the wives and fiancées of American servicemen.
Photo:- via Bruce Buchan
American Red Cross Service Club, 114 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Photo:- Peter Dunn
The same corner in February 2005
Photo:- via Art Houseman
1st Sgt Dean and Uhlig of the 4th
Air Depot Group standing outside
the American Red Cross Service Club, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Photo:- Peter Dunn
The same location in February 2005
Photo:- via Bruce Buchan
The American Red Cross Service Club
Photo:- Jack Heyn
Monica Lynch, an American Red Cross worker at the American Red Cross club
Photo:- Monica Lynch
Monica Lynch outside in Exhibition
Street, Melbourne. You can see the
Australian Comforts Fund building
across the road in the background.
Note the clock in the background and refer to the photo below.
Photo:- Bruce Buchan
Centenary House today. The Main
entrance can be seen at the right of the
photo. Is that the same clock which can be seen in the side street.
Photo:- Bruce Buchan
The same location approximately 60 years later
Photo:- Peter Dunn
The balcony approximately 60 years later
Photo:- Peter Dunn
The foyer of the former American Red Cross Service Club in February 2005
Photo:- Bruce Buchan
Inside Centenary House in 2004
Photo:- Bruce Buchan
Centenary House in 2004
Photo:- Bruce Buchan
Inside Centenary House in 2004
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I'd like to thank Jack Heyn, Art Houseman and Bruce Buchan for their assistance with this home page.
I'd also like to thank Edward F. Kickham and Kathy Kickham who are both children of Monica Lynch for their assistance with this web page.
Can anyone help me with more information?
"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products
© Peter Dunn 2015 |
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This page first produced 30 January 2005
This page last updated 16 January 2020