Cape River Meat Works

2/1 Field Butchery Company Meat works

Construction of the Cape River Meatworks, initially referred to as the Pentland Meat Store, at Cape River, was underway by November 1942 and the plant was operational by July 1943. As the war moved further north to the Pacific islands, production at the meat works declined and by mid-1945 the army had no further use for the facility which was left under a caretaker.

Place information

Location

Flinders Highway

Cape River, QLD 4816

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Place type

Factory site/industry

History

Arrival of Australian and American forces in north Queensland during 1942 placed a huge strain on the food resources of the region. Townsville and Charters Towers were particularly hard hit with the military drawing on food supplies, water, electricity, firewood and ice. Local residents were required to obtain ration coupons for daily essentials including meat and other foods. Meat was strictly controlled and even hospital patients were required to surrender two meat coupons a week.

By mid-1942 the Charters Towers district housed expanding troop contingents at Sellheim army camp and Charters Towers, Macrossan and Breddan airfields. Since 1941 the Australian Army...

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