United States Army Petroleum and Oil Store Depot

United States Base Section 3 Oil and Fuel Store

On 20 July 1942, US General Douglas MacArthur transferred his Australian headquarters (HQ) of the South-West Pacific Area (SWPA) command from Melbourne to Brisbane. Brisbane was chosen as it possessed major port facilities; was a rail hub; and was closer to the frontline in Papua and New Guinea. Thus Brisbane became a major Allied base during the Pacific War, of equal significance to Pearl Harbour (Central and Northern Pacific commands HQ) and Bombay (South-East Asia command HQ).

This petroleum and oil store was an example of the military infrastructure that the American forces constructed in Brisbane so as to develop it as an important logistical base and as the SWPA headquarters.

Place information

Location

2 Amelia Street

Nundah, QLD 4012

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Place type

Supply facility

History

A US Army petroleum and oil storage complex was proposed for Nundah due to its close proximity to both the US air base at Eagle Farm and the railway that connected to north Queensland. As the complex was to store highly inflammable material, a site was chosen at the end of Amelia Street because it was surrounded on three sides by swampland. This would limit the spread of any possible fires to any neighbouring houses. The site was also fairly isolated as the nearest residences were six houses located further along Franklin Street.

Mr. T.B. Payne of the Queensland Government’s Surveyor...

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