Cairns ‘Z’ Experimental Station (Z.E.S.) Commando Training School

Fairview Farm, “The House on the Hill"

During WW2, the military commandeered “Fairview House” on Fairview Farm at Mooroobool in Cairns. The address was used as a training facility for used “Z” Special Operations Commandos, and its secretive nature led to the home becoming known as “The House on the Hill".

Place information

Location

Munro Terrace, Mooroobool

Cairns, QLD 4870

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Place type

Training facility

History

Used between 1942 and 1944 by Z Special Unit as an Experimental Station or Z.E.S., the house saw training programs that included demolition and explosives, unarmed combat, signals, map reading, weapons and physical training aspects.

Planning for Operation Jaywick, the mission to blow up Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour, was undertaken at the location. Fourteen British and Australian Commandos trained in the Barron River and on the beaches north of Cairns. An old Japanese fishing vessel called The Krait was used for the mission to offer some anonimity. The Japanese flag was flow en-route to the mission. The team left Cairns...

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