In March 1942, the United States (US) naval commander in Australia, Admiral Leary divided his submarine force between Fremantle and Brisbane. This allowed attacks on Japanese shipping in the Netherlands East Indies or New Guinea and the Philippines. Brisbane developed into a major US submarine base. Initially it had 11 submarines (Task Group 42.1) commanded by Captain Ralph W. Christie.

On 15 February 1943, the US 7^th Fleet ('MacArthur’s Navy') was formed and based in Australia. Brisbane’s submarines were re-designated a task force TF.73. The Northgate Stores Depot was built in response to this expansion. It was one of the two major USN depots in Brisbane. It held naval stores except ordnance, which was kept at the United States Navy (USN) Mt. Cootha Depot.

The Northgate Depot was built in 1943 and comprised 19 USN warehouses or other buildings. It was bounded by Toombul and North Coast (now Melton) Roads, Edgar and Allworth Streets. In 1944, the Australian Government purchased 11 acres, 2 roods and 32 perches of depot land. The USN left the depot in 1946. The Australian Army used the depot until 1949. Thereafter, it was designated for private industry.