Three Mile Creek Anti Aircraft Battery

Robertson Park/Three Mile Creek Park

Fortifications
Townsville

Pallarenda Road (near Three Mile Creek), Pallarenda 4810

Commonwealth documents reveal that Three Mile Creek Anti Aircraft (A/A) Battery was Townsville’s earliest operational A/A Battery.

History

On 11 February 1942 a camouflage report for Kissing Point noted that paint and assistance had been given to Three Mile Creek A/A in order to 'tone down' the roofs of the huts. Ashes from the Hubert’s Well Power Station on Ross River Road were used to make the Battery less obvious from the air.

Although no separate unit diary exists for the Battery, it is likely Three Mile Creek fired on Japanese reconnaissance aircraft or the flying boats that attacked Townsville in July 1942, due to its proximity to Garbutt aerodrome.

The location of the Battery would be slightly south of the present Pallarenda Garden Settlement home.

Source/comments

Army Coastal Fortification - Townsville (Kissing Point), SP 110/6, 88 ACT

[Camouflage - Methods] Camouflage Works, Volume 2, Townsville Fort Areas [Photo album] [Oversize item] AWM 54, 161/3/2

[Camouflage - Methods] Camouflage, Anti Aircraft Guns and Machine Gun Posts, 15 April 1942, AWM 54, 161/3/27.