Today, it’s difficult to visualise 15,000 United States Army soldiers arriving in the area around present-day Kremzow Road and Young’s Crossing. But that’s exactly what happened in July 1943. During WWII, more than 50,000 servicemen passed through the wider Pine Rivers area for military training or rest and recreation, while around 15,000 US soldiers were stationed at Camp Strathpine.
Historian Leith Barter noted the Pine Rivers area gave soldiers “a strong sense of the skills and stealth required for jungle warfare.” Close enough to Brisbane for supply and coordination, with access to water and large areas of bushland, it simulated conditions troops were likely to face fighting Japanese forces in the Pacific and New Guinea. Soldiers trained in heavy artillery and bombardment, conducting night-time field exercises and live-firing drills near Clear Mountain and at multiple mortar and grenade ranges around Cashmere.
A farmer at Closeburn recounted an incident when his cows refused to move one day, and then suddenly bolted in the opposite direction. When he turned around, 100 soldiers were standing behind him. He’d been unaware they’d been practising camouflage techniques in the trees and long grass.
“I got such a fright,” he said, “but the soldiers were very courteous and apologised for frightening my cows.”
Community Impact and Post-War Legacy
The army’s presence at Camp Strathpine created a surge in demand for local produce and timber for the construction of military buildings. Housewives washed soldiers’ clothing for extra money; dances, movies, and even cricket matches were organised for troops and civilians, and local families entertained soldiers in their homes, hosting dinner parties and singalongs around the piano.
From late 1943 into early 1944, American troops were redeployed to New Guinea, later the Philippines, and then Japan. Australian soldiers of the 7th Division of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force then continued to train at Camp Strathpine before further service in the Pacific. The camp’s buildings were sold and removed when hostilities ended in 1945, and the area was developed for housing.
Although Camp Strathpine comprised a complex of army headquarters, airfields, accommodation for armoured, cavalry and artillery units, as well as kitchens, recreation, and mess halls, little tangible evidence remains today, including the concrete slabs of former shower blocks, a latrine pit, and a bread oven that was relocated to Starling Street Park, Warner. Residents occasionally discover military artefacts in the area, some of which can be viewed at the Pine Rivers Heritage Museum, Petrie.
Featured image: Vehicles and equipment in a section of the motor pool, United States 1st Cavalry Division, Camp Strathpine, 1943: Image courtesy of City of Moreton Bay, Ref: PRLPC-P0202
Read more stories from The North Lakes Guide print magazine here:
- In the North Lakes Loop: Updates from the Community
- What’s Hot Around Town
- Organic Gardening in October
- Fish of the Month: Fringefin Trevally
- Brisbane Writers Festival Returns With Big Stories
- Alternative Market Brings Creative Finds to Pine Rivers
- Cursed on Conway: Meet the Family Behind the Halloween Haunt
- Rediscovering the Joy of Handwritten Letters
- Where to Spend Grandparents Day in North Lakes
- Deception Bay Welcomes Popular Groovin’ In The Green
- Double the Days, Double the Vibes at Pasifika Festival
- Pickleballers Rally for 24-Hour Mental Health Fundraiser
- Hanging Rock Mystery Comes to Life on Stage
- Connecting Seniors Expo Brings Community Together
