You are standing in front of the 385 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Station, one of the most historic sites in Lytton. It’s a relic of World War II, built to defend Brisbane against Japanese air attacks. It started as a smaller station in Colmslie but was moved to Lytton in 1943 because of its strategic location.
The gun station wasn’t just a place for soldiers to man guns. It was a real community, with accommodation for officers, mess rooms, and even a sleeping hut for women from the Australian Women’s Army Service. The AWAS women were crucial, operating the complex radar and predictor systems. They were tasked with tracking airplanes and directing the guns to their targets.
It’s a little hard to imagine today, a bustling city with a giant refinery on the site. It truly was a different time. Though Brisbane was never bombed, the 385 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Station stood ready, a testament to the bravery and resilience of those who defended Australia during the war.