NAVAL HOSPITAL TOWNSVILLE, US NAVY
ROSE BAY, TOWNSVILLE, QLD
DURING WW2

visits since 28 September 2004

The Naval Hospital in Townsville, north Queensland was authorised by US Navy Plan #100, Project #108. The land was obtained rent free from the Townsville Town Council. 150 men and 2 officers of Company "C" of the 55th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) started construction of the 120 bed Naval Hospital on 22 October 1943. It comprised a group of Quonset huts laid our along the shores of Rose Bay (now known as Rowes Bay), about 4 miles west of Townsville. 

The Naval Hospital commenced operations on 20 December 1943. The Naval Hospital housed a G-7 Unit with a staff of 65 men and 8 officers.

The Quonset material to construct the hospital had been stored in Townsville. This material had arrived on an Landing Ship Tank (LST) along with the Hospital Unit to occupy the hospital. It is possible that this was unloaded from the LST's that were beached at the site of today's Rock Pool at Kissing Point. Materials were obtained from Brisbane or from the Army in Townsville for water and sewer mains, electrical distribution, water tanks, toilets and showers.

The Naval Hospital Townsville was part of the US Navy Base in Townsville which comprised:-

• Base Headquarters

• Fleet Post Office

• Naval Magazine

• Base Supply Depot

• 120 Bed Naval Hospital

The US Navy Base in Townsville remained in operation until July 1944 when a detachment form Company "D" of the 84th Naval Construction Battalion started to dismantle the base and pack it up to be relocated to a forward area.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Gina Nichols for her assistance with this home page.

Heaps of WW2 books available at Amazon.com

"Australia @ War"

This page first produced 28 September 2004

This page last updated 28 September 2004