Air Raid Shelter (Townsville Railway Station)

Hanlon’s Hideouts

Known as 'Hanlon’s Hideout's, (after Civil Defence Minister Ned Hanlon) this type was not located in the suburbs as residents were expected to construct their own shelter or slit trench for protection against air attack.

The air raid shelter built at the Townsville Railway Station was constructed in front of the carpark beside the road.

Place information

Location

Flinders Street West

Townsville, QLD 4810

Open in Google maps

Place type

Civil defence facility

History

Fifteen reinforced concrete civilian air raid shelters of this 'pill box' type were constructed in the CBD. They could accommodate fifty persons and were constructed by the Public Works Department.

The air raids on Townsville occurred over three nights between 25 and 29 July 1942 when Kawanishi flying boats attacked the city. A plan that involved up to seven Rabaul-based aircraft, each flying a return distance of some 3000 miles, would yield little more than propaganda for the Japanese. The actual damage Townsville received from these three raids was one dead rock wallaby at Many Peaks Range and a damaged coconut...

Suggest an edit

Copy Link