RAN WIRELESS STATION
RAN "Y" STATION
STANTON HILL, TOWNSVILLE, QLD
DURING WWII

At the “Y” Committee meeting of 2 May 1942, Commander Jack Newman RAN advised that "A small Naval “Y” unit (without D/F) is going to TOWNSVILLE shortly.” This was to be a field unit to monitor, record and send back to FRUMEL in Melbourne encoded Japanese radio morse code transmissions.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) established a Wireless "Y" Station, at 121 Upper Blackwood Street on Stanton Hill in Townsville during WWII on about the 9 November 1942. It was was known as a "Y" Station. The Transmitter/Receiver Station for the Wireless Station comprised two 150 feet high wireless towers. As you drive up the hill, the Station Offices were located on the right hand side of the road – it consisted of two rooms, one for men who monitored and recorded coded signals and the other behind where the WRANS monitored Japanese signals and passed them ‘down south’ for decoding. The building is now used as a private house and is located at 7 Hillside Crescent ("Aileen's Place"), Stanton Hill. The men’s quarters, mess, galley and underneath ablutions area were located across the road in Stanton Lodge (see photo below). The WRANS quarters were upstairs in the main building (now Stanton Lodge).

Photo:- Peter Dunn, November 2005

"Aileen's Place", 7 Hillside Crescent was the "Y" Station. Cleveland
Bay and Magnetic Island can be seen in the background.

Photo:- Peter Dunn, November 2005

I believe this is the remains of the power plant building. It has a concrete walls at the base.

Naval Historical Collection

Men’s quarters, mess, galley and ablutions area were under this building
on Stanton Hill, Townsville. Castle Hill can be seen in the background.
This photo was described as the "Lecornu Naval Wireless Transmitting Station",
however the upper part of the building was used as WRANS quarters.
The wireless station was across road at 7 Hillside Crescent ("Aileen's Place")
 

The name "Lecornu Naval Wireless Station" came from Naval Telegraphist Wesley John Le Cornu (PA3607) from Underdale in South Australia. His military records in National Archives of Australia show that he spent time at RAN Station 21 on Magnetic Island at the location now known as The Forts.

I was contacted by the late John Le Cornu on 6 April 2009 as follows:-

"Whilst perusing the net I came across your articles about the above subject and my attention was drawn to some details about the wireless station, and in particular the suggestion that it was called the "Lecornu" station and you asked if anyone knew where the name came from."

"My name is W.J. (John) Le Cornu and I served at the Station from August 1943 for a period before transferring to Magnetic Island RAN Signal Station and other subsequent postings to various ships. I have no idea why the name was used - the Le Cornu family originated from Jersey Islands and settled in South Ausralia."

"My curiosity prompts me to ask where you found reference to 'Lecornu' name. I originally asked Peter Nielsen (whom you would know - and who incidentally gave me your email address) but he has no knowledge of the link --if any."

"As a matter of interest, I am the Editor of the Magazine for the Fairmile Association 'Dits & Dahs'. I'm sure you would know about the Fairmiles. Our Association still has 270 members, most having served on Fairmile but many on Small Ships. I served on ML1326 and HMAS Radical plus others."

"The picture (above) is of the men’s quarters, mess, galley and ablutions area (under). As you go up the hill, the Station Offices were on the RH hand side of the road – it consisted of two rooms, one for men who monitored and recorded coded signals and the other behind where the WRANS monitored Japanese signals and passed them ‘down south’ for decoding."

"The transmitters were situated thru the town and over the Ross River south of Townsville – can’t remember exactly where."

"I remember standing on the front balcony of the quarters one afternoon watching a Catalina coming into land over the breakwater when it hit a large wave, exploded and sank – can’t remember if anyone escaped but was informed later that a rather obese Air Force chap got blocked in the escape hatch and he and those behind him were drowned."

"I took a few photos with a Box Brownie but they are faded and brown.- a few others were censored. Many photos have passed through my hands but mainly relating to Fairmiles and their activities If you call up ‘Fairmiles on Google – as you have no doubt already done, you will find quite a lot of reports. We have published two books ‘Fairmile Ships of the Royal Australian Navy Volume 1 and Volume 2."

"The Navy Station on Magnetic Island was on a hill just north of the army artillery base and just above Horseshoe Bay. We monitored and identified passing ships and those entering port waters. There was a lot of traffic in those days."

"Must leave it at that for now Peter. If I find time to go through and improve any photos I will let you know. Meantime I will continue searching re the ‘Lecornu’ link to Stanton Hill."

Jeff Doonan, who is Wesley John Le Cornu's son-in-law, told me on 12 June 2020:-

"My father-in-law (now deceased) was 'John' Le Cornu a navy radio expert who helped set up the Signals Station on Magnetic Island. He said that there were permanent staff including telegraphists working on Magnetic Island. The hill where the Signals Station was is referred to as LeCornu Hill in the museum on Magnetic Island."

After the war "John" Le Cornu set up ham radios at his home in St Ives using the extensive aerial systems that he had developed during the war. He could talk to anyone anywhere in the world. Magnetic Island had such an impact on John that he honeymooned there after the war.

The WRANS telegraphists who worked in the "Y" Station intercepted signals sent by the Japanese Command and signals from Japanese ships and submarines when they broke W/T silence. The Japanese signals were in code. The telegraphists would write down the messages, transposed them into "kata kana" and then sent them to the intercept site for FRUMEL at Moorabbin or to  Monterey in Melbourne by land line. The decoding and code breaking took place in Melbourne.

Early in the war some plain language Japanese messages were intercepted by the "Y" Station on Castle Hill. These messages were initially considered by the Japanese to be routine operational communications but it did not take the Japs long to realise that the Allies were able to obtain useful information from these messages.

Photo:- James F. DeYuliis, 4th Air Depot Group via Gloria Burnley

WRANS quarters on Stanton Hill can be seen at top right of this interesting photograph from WWII.
The Catholic Sacred Heart Cathedral in Stanley Street can be seen near the centre of the photograph.
Can anyone please send me a similar colour photo taken now from the same spot?

Alison Armstrong  (WR505), Betty Club, Margaret Gnu and Pat Dunhill, were members of the second draft of "Y" operators who arrived in Townsville in August 1943 from Harman. Others who worked at the "Y" Station were Marjorie O'Brien (WR68, later Marjorie Howe), Betty Russel (WR52), Cora Allen, Joan O'Brien, Rita Horner, Jessie Chisholm (WR1370, later Jessie Horton), and Margaret Shergold.

Photo:- Peter Dunn, November 2005

The sailors who worked at the Wireless Station
initially lived at 13 Bell Street, South Townsville.
Does anyone know if the houses
have been renumbered since WW2?

They then relocated to another building on the eastern side of the Wireless Station at 119 Upper Blackwood Street which has since become 6 Hillside Crescent. This house was known as Stanton Lodge and was later used as the Life and Vocational Skills Unit for Townsville State High School.

The Royal Australian Navy also took over Control of the Townsville Radio Station which was located in Victoria Park, South Townsville during WWII. The Townsville Radio Station was operated by the Coastal Radio Service.

WWII photo of the RAN Wireless Station barracks. WRAN quarters are in the house on the left of
the photograph. You can see one of the two 150 feet high wireless towers in the background
and  you can also just see a stay wire at right of photo in front of the Wireless Station.

Photo:- Peter Dunn, November 2005

Stanton Lodge with Castle Hill in the background

One of the two 150 feet high wireless towers can
be seen in the background of this photo

Photo:- Peter Dunn, November 2005

Entrance to Stanton Lodge

Photo:- Peter Dunn, November 2005

Stanton Lodge

Photo:- Peter Dunn, November 2005

Stanton Lodge

Photo:- Peter Dunn, November 2005

Stanton Lodge. The road leading up the hill leads to the start
of the "Goat Track" which goes to the top of Castle Hill

Photo:- Peter Dunn, November 2005

A view of Stanton Lodge from near the entrance to the "Goat Track"

Some of the WRANS who worked at the adjacent RAN Wireless Station were accommodated at 123 Upper Blackwood Street, Stanton Hill. This was a house owned by Major C.E.S. Jackson, that had been hired by the RAN. This house later became 17 Victoria Street, Stanton Hill. I believe the motel called Ridgemont may now be located on the original position of this house. Can anyone please confirm?

Photo:- Peter Dunn, November 2005

Ridgemont which might be the location of the former WRANS
accommodation. Castle Hill can be seen in the background.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA REFERENCES

REFERENCE BOOKS

 "Diary of WWII, North Queensland"
Compiled by Peter Nielsen

"Ships Belles - The Story of the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service in War and Peace 1941 - 1985"
By Shirley Fenton Huie

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 2 July 2004

This page last updated 25 February 2022