As early as March 1939 World War I veteran Eric Stevens of Redbank was suggesting that Ipswich make preparations to defend the city against air attack. He feared that Ipswich’s river location, sizeable population and industries would make it a target. He was not the only one.
The following month a candidate for the forthcoming Ipswich City Council elections, Mervyn Welsby, advocated construction of underground shelters fearing that the proximity of Amberley Aerodrome and the railway workshops would render Ipswich an attractive target for air raids.
Such forethought was rather remarkable considering that the British Prime Minister did not declare war on Germany until 3 September 1939.
Not wasting any time after war was declared, on 4 September Ipswich Mayor J. Minnie held a meeting of local tradesmen, council officers, emergency organisations and the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) Executive to plan how to best protect the city and close environs. Backyard shelters and air raid trenches were of course on the agenda. Soon after this event members of the public were invited to join the ARP as volunteers.
Over the next month some became air raid wardens, and some volunteers were requested to dig a model air raid shelter in the middle of Queens Park near the haystack. This was to be a long term project commencing with 5 diggers in December 1939 and progressing at a snail’s pace for some time.
Certificate (of Francis Weatherhog) showing membership of the Air Raid Wardens’ Organisation of Queensland, Ipswich, 1945 – (Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich)
The ARP proceeded to construct a comprehensive emergency plan for Ipswich showing streets and buildings. Also included was the number of people living in each house, location of phones, and names of car owners- all important elements for responding to a community emergency in the 1940s. Looking back, this is an amazing feat. Perhaps because Ipswich was smaller (about 25,000 population) than it is now (population 200,000), or in spite of it, it is unlikely that a plan of such magnitude could be produced today.
Ipswich residents were encouraged to dig backyard trenches for their own protection. It was suggested that those living in high-set houses could use sandbags to construct handy shelters under the house to be used in the event of air raids. Later, Mr G. L. Harrison the City Engineer would draw- up plans for backyard air raid shelters and they were made available to the public.
A servicewoman in a local bomb shelter (at Sadliers Crossing), Ipswich, 1943 – (Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich)
By the end of 1941 and after 2 years of war, Queensland Premier William Forgan Smith utilizing National Security Regulations ordered local authorities to provide public shelters for the community. Owners of buildings and businesses housing 30 people or more were also directed to provide air raid shelters for staff, tenants & members of the public in the vicinity during an emergency. Ipswich was to have 16 air raid shelters. They were required urgently and their construction was to take priority over other civic projects, the first shelter being located in Limestone Street. In order to get the ball rolling council staff had their Christmas leave cancelled so that work could proceed without delay.
The community swung into action and over the next few months many sites around Ipswich acquired shelters and trenches to provide safe haven from air attack:
- The Railway Workshops built shelters on the banks of the Bremer
- Ipswich General Hospital dug trenches behind the Children’s and Epidemic Wards
- Trench shelters appeared in some public parks like Bremer Park
- Browns Park was to get an underground shelter although the scarcity of reinforced steel impeded construction
- Slit trenches appeared at Ipswich Woollen Mill, East Ipswich. They also used a unique combination of wool bales and sandbags to create another 7 shelters there
- It was compulsory for all schools to provide air raid shelters before the 1942 school year could begin therefore summer vacation was extended to allow for their construction by parents and volunteers. School eventually resumed on the 2nd of March with staggered attendance so that all students & teachers present could be accommodated in the shelters, if required.
- Ipswich Grammar School had a zigzag slit trench on the lawn near the swimming pool and another large enough to hold 40 boys
- Ipswich Girls Grammar bricked up the cloisters in front of the school for protection & added slit trenches
Air-raid shelter from World War 2, 42 The Terrace, North Ipswich, 1991 – (Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich)
In Limestone Street between Nicholas & Gordon Streets, 8 shelters of brick & concrete using steel reinforcing were constructed. They were rectangular or “pill box” in shape measuring 50 feet long and 10 feet wide. (Approximately 15 metres by 3 metres) The top was 30cm thick. Timber seats were built inside the structure.
(Image courtesy of “Ipswich in the 20th century” by Robyn Buchanan, & Picture Ipswich)
At one stage it was suggested to camouflage the tops of the Limestone Street air raid shelters because they could be mistaken for marching troops from the air which would make them a target rather than a safe haven for the community.
Once the air raid shelters were built it was time for a practice drill. On Wednesday 10 June 1942 the first practice was heralded by a wailing siren issuing from Police Headquarters at noon. Everyone in the vicinity was obliged to play their part and proceed to the nearest public or private shelter and remain there until the all clear was given. Wardens and police were on duty. It went well and 8 days later a second drill occurred without warning, more closely simulating a real emergency situation.
Whilst public air raid shelters were compulsory and often intruded on the landscape they were considered to be lifesaving. However it was not long before their existence also became contentious. Some shelters prone to filling with water after rain became hazardous to small children and the unwary. Memorial Park in Nicholas Street was one of these. Members of the public were dismayed to find some shelters used as urinals.
Ipswich General Hospital often had to treat people who fell into trenches or were injured whilst digging. In early 1942 Stewart Pankoff (12) & C. Palmer of Chamberlain Street injured themselves whilst working on separate air raid shelters and were transported to the hospital for treatment. A couple of months later toddler Marguerite McMullen of Dudleigh Street, Booval (3 years old) fell into a shelter and was treated for a cut hand.
Long before the end of World War II there is some community discontent and support for demolishing Ipswich’s public air raid shelters. Despite the considerable erection costs and potential need, public health concerns grew. Controversy continued as a couple of the shelters proved hazardous to traffic. However the concrete shelters were not so easily dismissed. A shortage of cranes due to the war effort, and the very solid construction of the shelters combined to hinder the process of removal. In fact it was later in 1946 before the Limestone Street air raid shelters were demolished and the rubble dumped in Roseberry Parade near the river, thus igniting more public disapproval.