MILITARY EQUIPMENT BURIED
IN RASEY PARK, HERSTON,
BRISBANE, QLD
DURING WW2

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On 3 April 2008 I received information from Gayle Hinckfuss via Daniel Hultgren that the Brisbane City Council were excavating the grounds at Rasey Park at near the Royal Brisbane Hospital and they were finding equipment buried during WWII.

Unfortunately I only heard about this work in the last few days and have therefore missed an opportunity to see the work in its early stages. When I eventually did visit the site, I ran into a local resident who told me that he was there to see what was going on, as he had seen many truck loads of stuff coming out of the park for a number of weeks.

The earth works uncovered a number of rusty small engines, and various bits of rusty steel, some pieces of Marston matting, a twisted piece of aluminium possibly from an aircraft and various other pieces of rusted military rubbish. One of the interesting items found was a handle-less white glass mug. Probably a US Navy issue mug. The Brisbane City Council team donated the mug to the Maritime Museum. The mug had the name Corning on it and words to say it was "Made in USA". Some research by Gayle Hinckfuss reveals that Corning made tableware for the US Navy during the war. It was probably a US Navy Military Watch Mug. Apparently the concept for having no handles was to keep your hands warm during your watch on the cold deck of your ship. These Watch Mugs are typically thick and heavy, weighing approximately one pound. They are usually about 3 1/2" tall by 3 3/4" diameter and 1/4" thick.

 

A typical US Navy Watch Mug

 

Base of a typical US Navy Watch Mug

 

 
Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Historical Sign at Rasey Park

 

Rasey Park is located at the bottom of this photo. The road running diagonally near top of the photo is Newmarket
Road. The buildings on southern side of Newmarket Road was the Newmarket US Naval Stores Depot during WW2
which later became Bretts Hardware. Equipment of some sort can be seen stored or stacked below the old USN
Stores Depot. It is also rumoured that much Military Equipment is buried under Downey Park. The two white
roofed buildings on other side of Breakfast Creek near Rasey Park was the Swan Hill US Navy Stores Depot

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Brisbane Women's Hockey Association Clubhouse and Canteen Facility Rasey Park

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Other side of Brisbane Women's Hockey Association Clubhouse and Canteen Facility Rasey Park

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Looking west towards Fagan Road. I found two lumps of twisted
WW2 Marston matting (PSP) at left of picture at far end of the park.

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Piece of Marston Mat

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Another Piece of Marston Mat

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Same piece of Marston Mat

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Twisted piece of polished aluminium or stainless steel found on far edge of the park on the Gould Road side of the park

 

OTHER BITS AND PIECES OBSERVED AT RASEY PARK

By the way, for the benefit of those "Treasure Hunters" out there, it was all rubbish when it was first buried over 60 years
ago and it will now be just a lot of rusted crumpled and useless junk. See the following photos of junk found on site.

 

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Possibly dug up during recent earth works at Rasey Park. Can anyone confirm?

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Looking almost eastwards towards the small clubhouse and canteen

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Looking northwards towards Downey Park which is located on the other side of Breakfast Creek

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Looking north west towards Gould Road

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Rusty single cylinder engine found beside clubhouse - possibly excavated during recent earth works.

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Another view of the small engine

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Double-sided sign which reads "Dodge Brothers Approved Service Station".
It may have been dug up in the recent earth works at Rasey Park

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Excavator at Rasey Park

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Pile of Rocks and a lump of concrete near Breakfast Creek

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Lump of concrete - looks modern concrete not WW2

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

Not sure what is happening here. Perhaps the start of another small bridge across to Downey Park

Does anyone know?

 


Photo:- Peter Dunn 5 Apr 08

View of the area in the photo above this one from the small bridge across Breakfast Creek

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Daniel Hultgren and Gayle Hinckfuss for their assistance with this web page.

 

Can anyone help me with more information?

 

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

I need your help

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©  Peter Dunn 2015

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This page first produced 5 April 2008

This page last updated 15 January 2020