Camp Victoria Park (Lower) - HQ and Enlisted Men’s Camp

Base Section 3 and US Army Service of Supply (USASOS) Headquarters

In 1942, the US Army requisitioned Victoria Park, a large public reserve spread across two Brisbane suburbs for a large administrative and accommodation camp. Camp Victoria Park was the nerve centre for the support services that backed-up US combat troop operations in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). The camp was important as the headquarters of both the US Army Services Of Supply and its parent command of Base Section 3. American servicemen lived and worked at the camp while Australian civilians also were employed there. In 1944, a few members of the US Women’s Army Corps moved into the camp. Although the Pacific War ended on 3 September 1945, the camp continued to function for a further five months.

Place information

Location

223 Herston Rd

Herston, QLD 4006

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Place type

Military camp

History

With the arrival in Brisbane of the first US forces to Australia on 23 December 1941, a US headquarters was established at Lennon’s Hotel, with Colonel Alexander L.P. Johnson appointed supply officer. On 1 January 1942, Lieutenant General Brett transferred the Headquarters of the United States Forces in Australia (USFIA) from Brisbane to Melbourne. On 5 January, Brisbane was designated Base Section No. 3 for the purposes of the US Army. Johnson was the first base commander. Over the next 4 years, he was succeeded by: Colonel Albert L. Sneed, Brigadier General William H. Donaldson Jr., Brigadier General Emer. Yeager,...

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