US ARMY SIGNAL CORPS
CAPALABA HOTEL, CAPALABA
NEAR BRISBANE, QLD
COMMANDEERED BY THE US ARMY
DURING WW2

The US Army commandeered the original Capalaba Hotel from the Licensee, Mrs Horden, in about 1943 to accommodate US Army Signal Corps soldiers who were manning some newly established radio communications sites at Old Cleveland Road East at Capalaba and at the Redland Bay Golf Course. 

Some of the soldiers were also accommodated in tents on the flats around the Capalaba Greyhound Racing track located behind the Capalaba Hotel. They occupied the land between the Tingalpa Creek bridge and the Coolnwynpin bridge where the football fields are now located. This included the area occupied by Fredericks's dairy farm. They were still allowed to stay on their farm during the American occupation. There were approximately 300 to 400 soldiers camped in the area. The officers were accommodated in the Capalaba Hotel.

The new Capalaba Tavern on the site of the old hotel

Click on thumbnail photo to view

The Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club area
on 30 October 2002. The Capalaba Tavern
is at the right of the photo

Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club located behind The Capalaba Tavern 

Mrs Dollery reluctantly agreed to feed the American officers in her big dining room in her house in shifts. There were about 11 or 12 officers. The Americans were able to provide Mrs Dollery with a fantastic variety and quantity of food to cook for them. 

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 14 June 2002

This page last updated 24 January 2020