Queensland capital through the ages

A44-216 Super Hornet

Of all the incidents described in Radical Brisbane, the Battle of Brisbane is perhaps the best known. Only it and the Red Flag Riots of 1919 have had complete books written about them. But in the public’s general knowledge of the event, details remain vague: Where did it all begin and why? How long did the disturbance continue? How serious was it in terms of mayhem and casualties? And was it just an isolated set of instances or part of a more widespread pattern of wartime social disturbance?

The original building where the rioting focused, on Thursday 26 November 1942, still stands. It is the six story, dark-brick structure on the far-right corner of Adelaide and Creek Streets before the road rises on its way to Fortitude Valley. Known today as the Primary’s Building, in 1942 it served as the American PX (or Postal Exchange), its ground floor groaning under a profusion of American luxuries – cigarettes, alcohol, hams and turkeys, ice-cream, chocolates and nylon stockings – items that were to Australian servicemen and civilians either out of bounds, heavily rationed, or far more highly priced elsewhere.

Cat And A Hot Tin Roof by Pursuedbybear on Flickr.

Pattersons Wheel 1 by Brett Watson-Luke on Flickr.

Facade by Brett Watson-Luke on Flickr.