Upgrade of Defence Road Charleville to Blackall during WW2

UPGRADE OF DEFENCE ROAD CHARLEVILLE TO BLACKALL,
QUEENSLAND, IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

The 187 miles long road between Charleville and Blackall via Tambo in western Queensland was upgraded to military standards during WWII for a cost upwards of Ł370,000. Initial estimates were approximately Ł285,000. It comprised a 20 foot gravelled pavement. Linking two of the main Queensland Inland rail systems, the road was completed in May 1943. An Allied Works Council report stated that approximately 400 men were employed on this project. A higher level bridge was constructed over the Barcoo River. Timber from the old superseded bridge was railed from Blackall and used in several bridges between Rannes and Duaringa.

Principal Engineer Construction Projects Base Sections Australia
showing the upgraded Defence Road between Charleville and Blackall

The Queensland Main Roads Commission had earlier been tasked by the Allied Works Council to investigate possible routes for a new railway line to connect Charleville to Blackall. The MRC carried out a survey which was completed towards the end of 1943. The railway line did not get approval.

The following report is from the History of the Queensland Main Roads Commission 1939 - 1945:-

Charleville - Tambo - Blackall

The construction and gravelling of a strategic road 20 feet wide for 112 miles between Charleville and Tambo involved some land resumptions and resumption surveys, whilst grids, waterways, and concrete inverts had to be provided. Soft limestone was the only material available over a considerable length of this road and it was necessary to strengthen this by the addition of river gravel. Steel rail grids 20 feet wide were electrically welded in. Use was made of the existing road where possible, but much realignment was necessary. Some interruption took place when men and plant were moved to the Cloncurry-Tennant Creek road and a new organisation had to be built up. The job was completed in 14 months, nevertheless. Approximate value of the work was Ł372,401 and the maximum number of men employed 325.

Note:- The number of men differed from the 400 men quoted by the Allied Works Council, though the figure of 325 was most likely the number of MRC men who worked on the project not including AWC personnel.

Steve Meekin remembers that the road to Blackall from Charleville, when he was young, still bore some strange road signs which he had not seen anywhere else. Steve assumed they were US road signs. They were marking left and right hand curves and in essence a white disc with a black diagonal line marking the direction of the upcoming curve. They were located about four feet off the ground.

REFERENCES

"Report of Australia Remembers Project, Main Roads Commission Construction Projects, Cloncurry Transport District, World War Two"
by Kay Cohen

History of the Queensland Main Roads Commission 1939 - 1945

"Allied Works Council - Report for the period July 1, 1943 - February 15, 1945"

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thanks Allan Tonks for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products