Tour the Exhibitions

Australians and Americans – Brisbane Wartime Stories

War Brides

The expanded opportunities of wartime to work, socialise and join the services opened the way for girls to meet, fall in love with and marry their GIs. They were not daunted by the complicated and time consuming process of getting married, the application for permission, or the six months cooling off period. In 1946 many of them bravely set off for the unknown USA.

The Battle of Brisbane

Restless servicemen, bored and idle, congregated in the city centre, drinking in the Australian ‘wet’ canteen and the American PX. The anxieties of war seemed to be intensified by the Brisbane brownout. On November 26 1942 hostility erupted between Australians and Americans and a wartime legend was created.

The Codebreakers

A story untold for many years after the war was the contribution of the men and women who worked at 21 Henry St, or at Ascot Park, or in Townsville, intercepting Japanese radio signals, decoding and translating them and preparing intelligence reports for General MacArthur’s staff.

Sigsaly

Telephone communication in wartime had to be secure, and the Sigsaly terminal, in the basement of the AMP building, was the technology which ensured this. It was massive, weighing over 50 tons and needing thirteen highly skilled people from the 805th Signal Service Company to operate it.

Japan

After the Japanese surrender in August 1945 General Douglas Macarthur was appointed Supreme Commander Allied Powers, responsible for the occupation and re-organisation of post-war Japan. Australian participation in the British Occupation Force in Japan began in February 1946. Throughout its existence BCOF was led by an Australian Commander-in-Chief.

Korea

In 1950 the United Nations Security Council asked its members to help repel the North Korean army which had crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea. Australia was one of the nations which responded, joining the United Nations forces under the command of Genera Douglas Macarthur who led the defence and counter-offensive until April 1 1951.

We have also established a program of small changing exhibitions.

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