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United States Navy Fleet Hospital No. 109
Lavarack Park
In April 1942, the United States Navy (USN) arrived at New Farm to establish a submarine depot. The USN ran its Base 134 completely independent of the US Army’s establishment in Brisbane - Base Section 3. Sick and injured sailors were initially dealt with at a USN dispensary at New Farm. But as casualty numbers rose, the Commander of the US 7th Fleet authorised the construction of a naval hospital at Camp Hill in 1943. It was built on a large area of vacant land centred on a hill. Fleet Hospital No.109 operated until early 1945 when, with US forces pushing towards Japan, the hospital was dismantled and shipped to a Forward Area in the Philippines. As well, during 1944–45, the USN maintained a Prophylactic Station close to the many brothels of South Brisbane.
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Location
Place type
Medical facility
History
The United States Navy (USN) operated just one hospital, designated Mobile Hospital No.9 in Brisbane. It was built at Camp Hill on high ground, as the USN medical staff thought that its elevation and breezes would aid patient recovery. Camp Hill was close to the Brisbane River and the USN Air Station Colmslie that received constant flights of Catalina flying boats. The USN hospital commenced its services on 13 July 1943. It dealt with all US naval personnel, the sick or wounded evacuated from the battle zones or sailors based in Brisbane.
Most buildings were US-designed prefabricated structures brought as cargo...
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