OLD MILL BARRACKS
OLD MILL BUILDING
111 CONSTANCE ST, FORTITUDE VALLEY
USED BY THE MILITARY DURING WW2

The Old Mill Building was used as barracks for the Headquarters Squadron of the 5th Air Force Service Command and was known as the Old Mill Barracks.

In about December 2001, a computer company called Krome Studios at 111 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane was renovating its ground Floor office. This was originally called the Old Mill building. During the work a wall was taken down which revealed two panels that had writing in pencil on them. Krome Studios has over a period of time, taken over the whole building apart from Wine Cellar downstairs.

The two panels read as follows:-

	Bert Brodd - 17037367 5th Airforce Service Command WWII - 1943 - 1944 Now from Salisbury N.C U.S.A
	Frank Pursel - 33036094 - Slept here 5th Air Force Service Command WWII - 1943 - 1944 Now from Springfield, VA. U.S.A.
	There seemed to be a wall that continued from the section with the stair railing, that came forward, toward the camera and this is where the panels were, facing out, towards the top of the stairs.
	Krome Studios' building, was the Old Mill building
	Krome Studios' building, was the Old Mill building
April 2002	A different view of the Old Mill Building with the Depot Supply Office of the 81st Air Depot Group in the foreground on the corner of Wickham Street and Constance Street.

Krome Studios have kept the panels with writing on in case they were of historical interest. It is suspected that the building may have been the Old Mill Building Barracks. John Barry, who alerted me of this story, would like to contact these two servicemen, if they are still alive. Can anyone help at all?

Photo: From Dean Powell via Leah Emery, Krome Studios

The Day Room which was known as the Blue Room in the Old Mill Barracks, October 1943

Photo: From Dean Powell via Leah Emery, Krome Studios

The King Arthur room - sleeping facilities in the Old Mill Barracks, October 1943

Photo: From Dean Powell 

Some of the men of HQ & HQ Sq. of Service Command during 1943
who were quartered in the Old Mill Barracks (Lind-Beyer-Campbell group)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank John Barry and Leah Emery of Krome Studios for their assistance with this home page. I'd also like to thank Dean Powell whose father was in HQ & HQ Sq. of Service Command during 1943. Captain Scott was his superior officer, possibly Captain N.O. Scott who was in charge of the Intelligence Section. He may have worked in the McWhirthers Building in the Valley. He ate his meals in the Brown Building.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 18 December 2001

This page last updated 25 January 2020