4 AUSTRALIAN DETENTION BARRACKS CHARTERS TOWERS
CHARTERS TOWERS, QLD
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

Queensland L of C Area Detention Barrack (Charters Towers) was raised at Charters Towers, in north Queensland with a guard provided by the 15th Australian Garrison Battalion. It was located in an area in the vicinity of the Golf Links. It was used for "the detention of naval, military and air force personnel". The first 20 detainees marched in on 23 August 1942. In January 1943 its title was changed to 4th Australian Detention Barrack Charters Towers.

The land selected for the Detention Barracks was described as follows in a memo to Allied Land Forces H.Q. on 10 November 1942:-

All that land in the town of Charters Towers within the following boundaries:-

"Commencing at the eastern corner of Miners Homestead Lease No. 370 at the intersection of the south western side of Stubley Street and the north western side of Baker Street and bounded thence on the north east by Stubley Street north westerly about 17 chains; on the north west by a line south westerly about 15 chains; on the south west by a line south easterly about 17 chains to Baker Street and on the south east by that street north easterly about 15 chains to the point of commencement."

4 Australian Detention Barracks in Charters Towers made the beds that were used by the AWAS Recruit Training School which opened at Central State School in Townsville with 64 students.

4 Australian Detention Barracks was vacated by 25 October 1945.

REFERENCES

Diary of World War II North Queensland
By Peter Nielsen

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank John Le Roy for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 7 August 2017

This page last updated 24 January 2020