Brisbane City Council Public Shelters

    This is a summary list of major public air raid shelter work undertaken by Brisbane City Council. Most of the work was completed 1941-1942. The information has been obtained from the Council archives (reference H-7-87) and, as is the case with some contemporary records, may contain errors and omissions. These shelters were designed by Council staff and constructed by both Council labour and contractors. Some of the original plans still exist.

    The list is most likely of the public shelters officially commissioned by the Queensland State Government. Many other shelters were, of course, constructed in Brisbane at the time, either by companies, private individuals or military authorities - and even by Brisbane City Council itself.

    Council constructed shelters for workers on leased wharves and Council properties, including Stanley wharf, Circular Quay Wharves 2,3 and 4, Norman wharf and Musgrave Wharf. Shelters were built under the Story Bridge for personnel engaged in the shipbuilding industry. Council also built five shelters at the Howard Smith Wharves on behalf of the Bureau of Industry.

    The capacity of the public surface shelters is initially noted in the Council records as 70 persons per "standard" shelter, but seems to have been revised down to 50 at some point. Capacity of the trench shelters is usually shown as 1 person per foot.

    Council records note that two pillbox type shelters were built at Howard Street, Petrie Bight, and another two at Boundary Street, South Brisbane but all four were not available for public use. Likewise, a trench system was constructed at Perry Park, Bowen Hills, but was taken over by the American troops stationed there.

    Key to notes:
    E = Existing - shelter still exists in some form
    1 = Some of the shelters were constructed with basic lavatory facilities
    2 = Covered concrete trench system with lavatory facilities
    3 = No details, but possibly a combination of trenches and pilbox types
    4 = Has been repurposed as the lower story of a building constructed post-war
    5 = A 1951 plan shows the shelter was converted with latticework sides - shelter now demolished.
    6 = Council records note that the City Architect was to construct these, but no further details

    Suburb Location Type Walls Qty Capacity Notes
    Albion Hudson Rd Pillbox Concrete 1 50
    Albion Bridge St Pillbox Concrete 1 50
    Annerley Ipswich Rd (near Waldheim St) Bus Stop Concrete 1 50
    Annerley Cornwall St (in Hefferan Park) Trench Concrete 100 ft 100
    Annerley Cornwell St (in Hefferan Park) Cantilever Concrete 1 50 E
    Annerley Annerley Rd Pillbox Brick 6 300 1
    Brisbane City Elizabeth St (Between William & Eagle Sts) Pillbox Concrete 19 950 1
    Brisbane City Elizabeth St (Between William & Eagle Sts) Pillbox Brick 10 500 1
    Brisbane City Eagle St Pillbox Brick 8 400 1
    Brisbane City Ann St (Between Wharf & Albert Sts) Pillbox Concrete 6 300
    Brisbane City Ann St (Between Wharf & Albert Sts) Pillbox Brick 10 500
    Brisbane City Adelaide St (Petrie's Bight) Pillbox Brick 1 50
    Brisbane City Macrossan St (Petrie's Bight) Pillbox Brick 1 50
    Brisbane City Wickham St (Petrie's Bight) Pillbox Brick 1 50
    Brisbane City Wickham St (Petrie's Bight) Special Brick 1 50
    Brisbane City Roma St (Markets) Pillbox Brick 3 150
    Brisbane City Roma St (Railway Parking Place) Pillbox Brick 2 100
    Brisbane City City Hall Lane (Rear of City Hall) Special Concrete 1 500
    Brisbane City North Quay (Between Herschelle and Turbot Sts) Cantilever Concrete 8 400
    Brisbane City North Quay (Market Wharf) Special Concrete 1 200
    Brisbane City William Street (In Queens' Wharf Rd) Special Concrete 1 90
    Brisbane City Botanic Gardens (at Corner of Alice and George Sts) Trench Concrete 1,050 ft 1,000 2
    Brisbane City Turbot St (at Edward St) Bus Stop Brick/Stone 1 50 E
    Brisbane City Albert Park Trench Concrete 1,000 ft 1,000
    Brisbane City Albert St Pillbox Concrete 7 350
    Brisbane City North Quay (at Victoria Bridge) Cantilever Brick 2 100
    Brisbane City Supreme Court grounds Pillbox Concrete 1 5
    Brisbane City Roma St (at railway station entrance) Pillbox Concrete 2 100
    Brisbane City Gregory Terrace (Victoria Park) Trench Concrete 1,500 ft 1,500
    Brisbane City Anzac square ? ? ? ? 6
    Bulimba Oxford St (near Quay St) Pillbox Brick 1 50
    Clayfield Corner Bayview Terrace and Sandgate Rd Pillbox Brick 1 50
    East Brisbane Mowbray Park Cantilever Brick 1 50
    East Brisbane Mowbray Park Cantilever Concrete 1 50
    East Brisbane Mowbray Park Trench Concrete 600 ft 600
    East Brisbane Raymond Park (1 off Baines St, 1 off Wellington Rd) Cantilever Concrete 2 100 E
    East Brisbane Fisher St Cantilever Concrete 1 50
    Enoggera Enoggera Rd (north of Banks St) Bus Stop Concrete 1 50 E
    Fortitude Valley Barry Pde Pillbox Concrete 2 100
    Fortitude Valley Centenary Park Cantilever Concrete 2 100
    Fortitude Valley Marshall St Pillbox Brick 3 150
    Fortitude Valley Yeovil St (east side of railway) Pillbox Brick 3 150
    Fortitude Valley Yeovil St (east side of railway) Special Brick 4 200
    Fortitude Valley Yeovil St (west side of railway) Pillbox Brick 1 50
    Fortitude Valley Duncan St Pillbox Concrete 4 200
    Fortitude Valley Duncan St Bus Stop Concrete 1 50
    Fortitude Valley Warner St Pillbox Concrete 3 150
    Fortitude Valley Warner St Pillbox Brick 4 200
    Fortitude Valley East St (in playground) Pillbox Concrete 1 50
    Fortitude Valley East St (in playground) Cantilever Concrete 4 200 E
    Fortitude Valley Gipps St Pillbox Brick 5 250
    Fortitude Valley Gipps St Pillbox Concrete 1 50
    Fortitude Valley Brunswick St (at Welsby St) Pillbox Concrete 1 50
    Fortitude Valley McLachlan St Pillbox Concrete 5 250
    Fortitude Valley Alfred St Pillbox Concrete 2 100
    Fortitude Valley Ann St (near Duncan St) Pillbox Concrete 2 100
    Fortitude Valley Amelia St Pillbox Concrete 1 50
    Hamilton Hamilton Rd/Kingsford Smith Dve (at Racecourse Rd) Bus Stop Concrete 1 50
    Herston Bowen Bridge Rd (opposite Women's Hospital) Pillbox Brick 1 50
    Kelvin Grove Victoria Park and Gilchrist Avenue Various ? ? 500 3
    Kelvin Grove Corner Prospect Terrace and Kelvin Grove Rd Cantilever Concrete 1 50 E
    Lutwyche Lutwyche Rd (at Stoneleigh St, in Wallace Place Park) Cantilever Brick 1 50 E
    Lutwyche Lutwyche Rd (at Thistle St) Pillbox Brick 1 50
    Manly Ferguson St (near war memorial) Bus Stop Concrete 1 50 E, 4
    Milton Milton Rd (at Baroona Rd) Bus Stop Concrete 1 50
    Morningside Wynnum Rd (near Thynne Rd) Cantilever Brick 1 50 E
    New Farm New Farm Park Trench Concrete 1,200 ft 1,200
    Newstead Newstead Park Cantilever Concrete 1 50
    Newstead Newstead Park Trench Concrete 1,000 ft 1,000
    Newstead Hamilton Rd/Kingsford Smith Dve (at Breakfast Creek Rd) Cantilever Concrete 2 100
    Nundah Sandgate Rd (at Wood St) Cantilever Concrete 1 50 E
    Paddington Childrens Playground Bus Stop Brick 3 150
    Paddington Lang Park Trench Concrete 600 ft 600
    Paddington Guthrie St (near Given Terrace) Pillbox Concrete 1 50
    Petrie Terrace Roma St (Police Barracks) Bus Stop Concrete 3 150
    Petrie Terrace Roma St (Milton Overbridge) Bus Stop Concrete 1 50
    Petrie Terrace Hardgrave Park (near Countess St) Trench Concrete 400 ft 400
    Red Hill Musgrave Rd (near Windsor Rd) Pillbox Concrete 1 50
    Sandgate Bowser Pde (in memorial Park, near post office) Cantilever Concrete 1 50 5
    South Brisbane Russell St (near Boundary St) Pillbox Brick 2 100
    South Brisbane Old Municipal Markets Pillbox Brick 4 200
    South Brisbane Stanley St Pillbox Concrete 6 300 1
    South Brisbane Russell St (at Stanley Wharf, near river) Pillbox Brick 4 200
    South Brisbane Stanley St (at Vulture St) Pillbox Concrete 4 200
    Spring Hill Wickham Terrace Opposite Bradley St) Cantilever Concrete 1 50 E
    Spring Hill Wickham Terrace (Albert Park - opposite Lilley St) Cantilever Concrete 1 50 E
    Spring Hill Wickham Terrace (Opposite Birley St) Cantilever Concrete 2 100 E
    Spring Hill Wickham Terrace (Opposite Berry St) Bus Stop Concrete 2 100
    Stones Corner Logan Rd (Stones Corner Park at library) Cantilever Concrete 1 50 E
    Stones Corner At Stones Corner Hotel Pillbox Concrete 2 100
    Teneriffe Commercial Rd (at ferry) Bus Stop Concrete 1 50 E
    Toowong High St Cantilever Concrete 1 50
    West End Highgate Hill Park (near Dornoch Terrace) Trench Concrete 1,000 ft 1,000
    Windsor Lutwyche Rd (at Windsor Town Hall) Bus Stop Brick/Stone 1 50
    Wooloongabba Brisbane Cricket Ground Pillbox Brick 10 500
    Wooloongabba Flower St (in Buranda Playground) Cantilever Concrete 1 50 E
    Wooloongabba Stanley St (at railway yards) Pillbox Concrete 3 150
    Wynnum Florance St (near Bay Terrace) Bus Stop Concrete 1 50

    Specifications

    Specifications for concrete and reinforcement for surface air raid shelters were published in the Queensland Government Gazette (No 179, 23 December 1941).

    Surface shelters

    Lateral and overhead Protection

    Surface shelters must be of such construction as to give:

    1. Lateral protection by means of not less than
      1. 1½ in. thickness of mild steel plate or plates; or
      2. 12 in. thickness of reinforced concrete; or
      3. 13½ in. thickness of sound reinforced brickwork; or
      4. 18 in. thickness of sound stonework; or
      5. 2 ft. thickness of ballast of broken stone; or
      6. 2 ft. 6 in. thickness of earth or sand; or
      7. a corresponding aggregate of a proportionate combination of such materials; or
      8. a corresponding aggregate of a proportionate combination of other materials approved by the Under Secretary of Public Works.
    2. Overhead protection from falling debris and to the structural requirements of support and span, by means of not less than:
      1. ½ in. thickness of mild steel plate; or
      2. 4 in. thickness of structural concrete reinforced if and as necessary or otherwise suitably strengthened or effectively supported; or
      3. 9 in. thickness of arching in sound brickwork or sound stonework – haunches must be properly filled and arches must have lateral support at abutments; or
      4. 18 in. thickness of ballast, broken stone or earth; or
      5. a corresponding aggregate of a proportionate combination of such materials; or
      6. a corresponding aggregate of a proportionate combination of other materials approved by the Under Secretary of Public Works.

    The material affording overhead protection must be such as to have a dead weight of not less than 60 lb per square foot of horizontal area or must be fastened down as to resist displacement by upward forces.

    The lateral protection must extend throughout the height of the shelter and similarly the overhead protection must extend over the whole area of the surface shelter.

    All brick built and concrete shelters must be founded on a stable footing, and have a slip joint thereon and reinforcement to walls shall commence at the slip joint.

    Concrete surface shelters shall be of continuous construction to walls and roof.

    Floors shall be of concrete or other impervious material and no finishes may be applied other than the provision of moveable grids.

    Private Shelters

    In addition to the public shelters, many shelters were constructed on pivate and residential properties to various specifications. Brisbane City Council compiled a list of private and residentail shelters exisitng and known in 1942.