476 HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN STATION ROSS RIVER
16 HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY
LOCATED NEAR MOUTH OF ROSS RIVER, TOWNSVILLE
ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE RIVER
USED BY THE MILITARY DURING WWII

There are the remains of a number of WW2 concrete bunkers on the southern side of the mouth of Ross River in Townsville in north Queensland. One is still intact, another is intact but rolled over on its roof and the rest have been demolished, possibly after they had fallen into the sea after the foreshore had been washed away over the years. These belonged to 476 HAA Gun Station Ross River of the 16th HAA Battery.

The 208th Coastal Artillery (AA) Regiment arrived in Townsville on 18 March 1942 and immediately established a number of anti-aircraft gun locations. One of those locations was on the southern side of the mouth of the Ross River in the same location as these concrete bunkers. The gun locations have long disappeared due to the foreshore washing away. 

After the 208th Coastal Artillery (AA) Regiment left the area it was taken over by the 7 Heavy Battery, Australian Army.

Photo: Irving Hamlin

The original 3" guns of the 208th CA AA at the southern southern
side of the mouth of Ross River with Castle Hill in the background

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

A picture from approximately the same location looking approximately north west

via Kevin Parkes

The 4 guns of the 208th CA AA at the southern side of the mouth of Ross River can be seen in
this 1959 aerial photograph of the area. The sea has now reclaimed the foreshore in the area of
these gun sites which have now all disappeared. The mouth of the Ross River is diagonally upwards
to the left of the photograph. The WW2 Concrete bunkers cannot be seen in this photograph.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

The remains of the first bunker closest to the mouth of the river looking north west

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

The remains of the first bunker closest to the mouth of the river looking north west

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Close-up of the remains of the first bunker closest to the mouth of the river looking north west

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

A photograph of the remains of the first bunker closest to the mouth of the river looking south east. The
remains of the second bunker can be seen in the background and a third one to the far right of the photo.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

A closer view of the second and third bunkers

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Remains of the second bunker

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Remains of the second bunker

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Close-up of the remains of the second bunker

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Ed Spriggins inspecting the remains of the third bunker

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

The remains of the third bunker looking in the other direction back towards the Townsville Harbour

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

The remains of the third bunker and the second bunker behind it, with the first one to the left of the
photograph. This photograph was taken looking in the other direction back towards the Townsville
Harbour. The rusting remains of some pipes can be seen in the foreground.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

This fourth concrete bunker is approximately behind the remains of the second bunker. It is believed
that the location of this bunker would be close to the Predictor for the anti-aircraft guns of the
208th CA AA. This photograph is taken looking towards the sea which is just behind the sand dune.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Another view of the fourth bunker from the same direction.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Another view of the fourth bunker from the same direction.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Another view of the fourth bunker from the same direction.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Looking back in the opposite direction at the fourth bunker. That
is the slopes of Mount Stuart to the right of the photograph.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

A fifth bunker in the bush (roughly behind third bunker?) has
been rolled over on its side but is still in one piece.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

The ventilator in the roof of the fifth bunker

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

The fifth bunker looking back in the other direction towards Castle Hill

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

The sixth bunker is further south east from the third bunker and is slightly
inland from the current shoreline. This is the only intact bunker sitting in its
original position. It is fully covered by sand on its coastal side.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

On the roof of the sixth bunker

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Rod Burgess on the roof of the sixth bunker. These bunkers may have
originally been sand covered for camouflage and protection purposes.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

The entrance to the sixth bunker

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

The doorway into the sixth bunker

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

The inside of the sixth bunker

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Some concrete remains on the south east side of the sewerage treatment works. These
remains may have been associated with those works rather than being WW2 remains.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Close-up of the above concrete remains

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Another close-up of the above concrete remains

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

The side wall of some of those remains. The treatment works can be seen in the
background. This photograph is taken looking back towards the Townsville Harbour.

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Inside the abandoned treatment works

Photo:- Peter Dunn. November 2005

Looking south east at the treatment works 

Were these bunkers also associated with
the anti-aircraft guns of the 208th CA AAA?

WWII Bunker Tour of Townsville

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Rod Burgess for his assistance with this web page and particularly for taking me to this location.

I'd also like to thank Russell Miller and Kevin Parkes for their assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 6 November 2005

This page last updated 29 July 2022