RAN Station 9 Pinkenba, (also know as Myrtletown) Indicator Loop Station and Photo-electric Beam

RAN STATION 9 PINKENBA
(ALSO KNOWN AS MYRTLETOWN)
INDICATOR LOOP STATION AND PHOTO-ELECTRIC BEAM

On 3 February 1943 it was decided to lay another Indicator Loop from Myrtletown to Fisherman's Island along with a Photo Electric Beam across the Brisbane River as part of the seaward defences for Moreton Bay.

The indicator loop was completed by HMAS Bangalow across the entrance of the Brisbane River between RAN Station 9 Pinkenba at Myrtletown and Fisherman Island 2 March 1943. The indicator loop was used to detect the presence of any submerged Japanese submarines entering the Brisbane River.

RAN Station 9 Pinkenba Indicator Loop Station at Myrtletown commenced operation on 8 January 1944.

The PE Beam installation was finished on 28 September 1943. It transmitted a light beam from Fisherman Island to RAN 9 Pinkenba. This was used to detect the presence of surface vessels entering the Brisbane River. Not far upstream an Anti-submarine Boom Defence Facility was established between RAN Station 8 Lytton near Fort Lytton and the northern bank of the Brisbane River. HMAS Kinchela was permanently moored in the Brisbane river as part of this Boom Defence system. If a submerged submarine was detected by RAN Station 9 Pinkenba, a signal would then have been sent to RAN Station 8 Lytton Boom Defence Facility to raise the boom cable.

In the picture above the concrete building at the left of the photograph is the one closest to the Brisbane River. This is the Control Building where the loop cables were terminated and all of the instrumentation was located. The concrete building to the right hand side of the above photograph contained the generator.

The larger concrete foundation in the center of the above photograph was the location of the living and eating quarters for the officers and ordinary ranks with the officers located at the left hand end of the building. The mess room area was located between the two living quarters.

There were two small toilet buildings, one either side of the living quarters. They can be seen in the above photograph.

A US Searchlight Battery was stationed about 400 metres to the north east of RAN Station 9.

It was decided on 1 June 1945 to remove the Indicator Loop in the Brisbane River. HMAS Limosa removed this loop on 2 June 1945.

RAN Station 8 Fisherman Island was unfortunately demolished during the development of the new Port of Brisbane at Fisherman Island.

There was another RAN Shore Station known as RAN Station 10 Controlled Mining Base somewhere near Pinkenba, QLD.

	Full size view of the above photograph
	The Generator Building looking towards the mouth of the Brisbane River
	Entrance to the Generator Building barred up the council to keep the vandals out
	A cable leaving the Generator Building heading towards the Control Building
	The Generator Building looking upstream
	The Control Building adjacent to the Brisbane River looking upstream
	The Control Building adjacent to the Brisbane River looking towards the mouth of the Brisbane River
	The Control Building adjacent to the Brisbane River looking towards the mouth of the Brisbane River
	The Control Building adjacent to the Brisbane River looking upstream
	Inside the Control Building
	Inside the Control Building
	Remains of a barge or similar, in the mud flats adjacent to the Control Building Update:- Joyce MacDonald was talking to an elderly gentleman in the park in October 2006. He told her that the remains are of an old steamer called 'Koopa' - it was a passenger service from North Quay to Bribie Island.
	Remains of a another barge or similar, in the mud flats adjacent to the Control Building. See above.
	The slabs of the living quarters and the two toilet buildings
	Toilet building foundation
	Steel plate on the top of the toilet building foundation
	A large concrete beam about 100 metres downstream from RAN 9. If you look closely at the right hand side of the photograph you will see an large International Passenger Jet taking off from Brisbane Airport.
	A large concrete beam about 100 metres downstream from RAN 9