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Antill Plains Airfields

The Antill Plains airfields were constructed during the early months of 1942. Often misspelt as “Anthill” in reference to the numerous termite mounds in the locality, the unusual name actually refers to an early landholder. The main Townsville–Charters Towers highway ran through the middle of the three strips and the Antill Plains rail siding was in the vicinity of this base.

Place information

Location

Adjacent to the Flinders Highway/western rail link

Antill Plains, QLD 4811

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Place type

Airfield

History

Other airfields also lined the road to Charters Towers. Fighter aerodromes (such as Anthill Plains) were always located nearer the coast to provide speedy interception in case of carrier attack. Medium bombers were located further out (Woodstock and Charters Towers), with heavy bombers being based at the extremity (Reid River). These had the greatest operational range and were vital if any strike was to be made against a retreating carrier force.

Owen Cary was a Signaller in the Australian 9th Infantry Battalion and arrived in Townsville around April 1942. The Battalion arrived at Stewart Creek junction near Townsville at night. They...

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