| Historical notes: | The earliest inhabitants of the lower Hunter River estuary were the Worimi and Awabakal Aboriginal groups. For thousands of years, these people hunted and gathered food around the many small islands within the estuary. In 1951 when five low-lying islands were reclaimed and joined to make the industrial Kooragang Island, the natural landscape underwent substantial change which has seen a significant loss in the physical remnants of Aboriginal occupation of the area.
(Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project, 2005; AMBS, 2004; NPWS, 1998; Newcastle Port Corporation, 2007)
Following European contact and Newcastle's settlement in 1804, the rich alluvial soil of the islands in the Hunter River estuary attracted the settlers who began farming and grazing the land. Ash Island was to become a significant site for dairy farming but with regular flooding with the estuary, these practices became increasingly difficult.
(Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project, 2005; Dept Public Works, 1971)
When Japan entered the World War II conflict, there was widespread apprehension that Australia may be vulnerable to enemy attack and invasion. In early 1942, the armed services directed increased attention to radar for locating and intercepting enemy aircraft in an effort to protect Australia's coastline and its strategically important towns and cities. These efforts intensified again following the submarine attacks on Sydney Harbour and Newcastle on 8th June, 1942.
(Dept Veterans' Affairs, 2002; Fenton, 1995; Newcastle Council, 2008)
Although the shelling of Newcastle resulted in no physical injuries and very little material damage, the event caused panic and highlighted the vulnerability of Newcastle and its industries to enemy attack. During the Second World War, the industrial city of Newcastle was at the centre of Australia's total war effort. Bullet-proof steel and armoured vehicles, heavy guns, ammunition, explosive shells, shipping and aircraft sections and a host of other essential parts and products were manufactured in Newcastle and, being strategically important, the most advanced technology was required to protect the city from any further attacks.
(Dept Veterans' Affairs, 2002; Fenton, 1995)
Only 12 days after Newcastle was shelled, 131 Radar Station was formed at Richmond Air Base. This mobile Ground Control Interception (GCI) unit was based on British radar practices that emerged in 1940 to detect and intercept enemy aircraft before they reached the intended target. This state-of-the-art British technology allowed the operators to obtain grid references without the need to calculate the coordinates manually thus saving critical time. 131 Radar Station also used uniquely advanced technology because the operators were able to estimate, in addition to direction and range, the size and height of the aircraft by assessing the strength of the signals received.
(Fenton, 1995)
Originally this mobile GCI unit, made up of British Mark V equipment, was housed on the back of 4x4 Crossley trucks, camouflaged underneath netted canopies. In August 1942, 131 Radar Station was moved to Beverley Park at Kogarah and then on to Kyeemagh where a series of test flights were logged to assess the performance of the equipment and the skills of the operating staff. In September 1942, the mobile unit received instructions and were transferred to Ash Island to be responsible for the protection of Newcastle.
(Fenton, 1995; Newcastle Council, 2008)
Upon arrival on Ash Island, the operating staff were met with swampland, mangroves and mosquitoes. Although facilities were limited, the Island was an ideal location for 131 Radar Station because the surrounding water was a good reflector, assisting the radar to detect any aircraft.
(Fenton, 1995)
By late 1942, Ash Island, although fairly typical of small RAAF stations on the coast, had become a permanent radar post and the operating staff was at full strength (two Commanding Officers, 25 RAAF and 22 WAAAF). On 16th December 1942, 131 Radar Station commenced 24 hour watch and by the end of January 1943, the new Mark V transmitter and receiver, the latest equipment and technology from Canada, arrived at Ash Island in preparation for the construction of galvanized 'Doover' huts (a half mile north west of the camp) to house the station.
(Fenton, 1995)
By February 1943, the WAAAF complement at 131 Radar Station outnumbered the RAAF contingent for the first time and included many of the first group of WAAAF radar operators trained at Richmond.
(Fenton, 1995)
Also in February 1943, the Crossley trucks that had housed the mobile GCI units left Ash Island for Maroubra and the construction of the two concrete igloos, with walls one foot thick, was underway. The almost impenetrable igloos were British in design and were intended to be built as underground bunkers. However, in Australia, these buildings were constructed above ground but disguised with netting.
(Fenton, 1995; Newcastle Council, 2008)
By mid 1943, the igloos were complete and the receiver and transmitter equipment installed in one and an emergency power unit housed in the other. The new Canadian equipment delivered to 131 Radar Station was state-of-the-art technology that was operated by the experienced and competent teams at Ash Island. The unit was divided into teams of five operators and one mechanic to work in shifts of six hours over the 24 hour period. The functions of the operators rotated every 30 minutes and covered the antenna rotation, Plan Position Indicator (PPI) tube, range/height tube and plotting table as well as an officer to keep a running order of all plots and heights taken. Meanwhile, the mechanic focussed on the transmitter and, along with the Commanding Officer, was responsible for supervising the maintenance and operation of the equipment.
(Fenton, 1995)
Although the staff at 131 Radar Station were trained and prepared for conflict, as the war progressed and the threat of enemy invasion lessened, the station assumed a secondary role as a training and demonstration centre for radar officers, controllers, recorders, operators and mechanics. The day-to-day activities were maintained by the WAAAF officers, however, in January 1945, 131 Radar Station was put on 'Care and Maintenance' service and the staff contingent was reduced severely. On 18th January 1946, 131 Radar Station was officially disbanded.
(Fenton, 1995; Wikipedia, 2009)
Since completion of its active duty during World War II, 131 Radar Station has become the Estuarine Interpretive Centre (EIC) as part of the Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project. The Centre is an educational centre that houses interpretive material illustrating the estuarine ecosystem as well as the history of the island.
(Fenton, 1995; Newcastle Council, 2008)
COMPARISONS WITH OTHER RAAF RADAR STATIONS IN NSW
During World War II, hundreds of radar stations were built along the Australian coastline to detect and intercept signals from any approaching enemies. Of the 100 or more built in Australia, there are very few remaining intact. With the stations and the associated camps being largely built of lightweight and portable structures, there is little built fabric remaining in situ other than concrete foundations on which the aerial structures were built.
Other than 131 Radar Station (former) at Ash Island, the only other significantly-intact station remaining in NSW is the RAAF 208 Radar Station at Catherine Hill Bay. This site was listed on the State Heritage Register in July 2008.
Located south of Newcastle, the 208 Radar Station was an Advanced Chain Overseas (ACO) unit that utilised a different form of radar technology than the Ground Control Interception unit (GCI) installed at Ash Island. However, the 208 Radar Station did use the aboveground concrete igloo structures to house the radar equipment as did the 131 Radar Station (former). |