Defender: Myrtletown Traditional Cache
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This is one of my Defender caches, a series dedicated to historical Brisbane in times past.
Many thanks to the OzatWar.com website by Peter Dunn for this info.
Please be very carefull with the cache hide camo, and replace it as found.
The Rastas000 FTF prize will be sent to the FTF-er after they log it.
On 3 February 1943 it was decided to lay another Indicator Loop from Myrtletown to Fisherman's Island along with a Photo Electric Beam across the Brisbane River as part of the seaward defences for Moreton Bay.
The indicator loop was completed by HMAS Bangalow across the entrance of the Brisbane River between RAN Station 9 Pinkenba at Myrtletown and Fisherman Island 2 March 1943. The indicator loop was used to detect the presence of any submerged Japanese submarines entering the Brisbane River.
RAN Station 9 Pinkenba Indicator Loop Station at Myrtletown commenced operation on 8 January 1944.
The PE Beam installation was finished on 28 September 1943. It transmitted a light beam from Fisherman Island to RAN 9 Pinkenba. This was used to detect the presence of surface vessels entering the Brisbane River. Not far upstream an Anti-submarine Boom Defence Facility was established between RAN Station 8 Lytton near Fort Lytton and the northern bank of the Brisbane River. HMAS Kinchela was permanently moored in the Brisbane river as part of this Boom Defence system. If a submerged submarine was detected by RAN Station 9 Pinkenba, a signal would then have been sent to RAN Station 8 Lytton Boom Defence Facility to raise the boom cable.
In the picture above the concrete building at the left of the photograph is the one closest to the Brisbane River. This is the Control Building where the loop cables were terminated and all of the instrumentation was located. The concrete building to the right hand side of the above photograph contained the generator.
The larger concrete foundation in the center of the above photograph was the location of the living and eating quarters for the officers and ordinary ranks with the officers located at the left hand end of the building. The mess room area was located between the two living quarters.
There were two small toilet buildings, one either side of the living quarters. They can be seen in the above photograph.
A US Searchlight Battery was stationed about 400 metres to the north east of RAN Station 9.
It was decided on 1 June 1945 to remove the Indicator Loop in the Brisbane River. HMAS Limosa removed this loop on 2 June 1945.
RAN Station 8 Fisherman Island was unfortunately demolished during the development of the new Port of Brisbane at Fisherman Island.
There was another RAN Shore Station known as RAN Station 10 Controlled Mining Base somewhere near Pinkenba, QLD.
If you look at the rivers edge, you will notice the old steel rusted remains of what is believed to be the SS Koopa.
SS Koopa plied passenger trade from Brisbane to Redcliffe and Bribie Island between 1911 and 1953.
The Koopa is remembered by those who travelled on her as wonderful days out. With the advent of the bridge that services Bribie Island, the need for her on that route was no more.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Qnatyvat
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