RESIDENTS hope that someone may have seen vandals who wrecked a WWII “sentry box’’ at the old communications facilities on Old Cleveland Road East.
Create a free account to read this article
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Resident Lesley Gibbs said the sentry box had been virtually destroyed by vandals and she believed someone would know who did the damage.
The site had great heritage value as it was through it that signals were received from across the South Pacific Allied area of operations during WWII.
The sentry box is on Australian Communications and Media Authority land next to the heritage listed Willards Farm.
Holes have been kicked in the walls and ceiling while weatherboards and its padlocked doors have been pushed out.
Cr Paul Bishop said it was disgrace that on the virtual eve of 75th celebrations for the end of WWII that such a significant site should suffer such damage.
“Every single pane of glass is broken,’’ he said. “It was here that signals about the end of WWII were received.
“General Douglas MacArthur had this built and many other installations here. There were US soldiers all over the place.’’
Cr Bishop said parents should warn their children to keep out of the site which, apart from broken glass, was likely highly contaminated with deadly asbestos from broken fibro.
“I just can’t get my fellow councillors to address the issue,’’ he said. “This place needs to be properly assessed for its heritage values. I’ve tried and tried but nothing happens.’’
ACMA shows no signs of repairing the property, with a spokesman saying only that a heritage assessment would be done before it was sold, likely some time next year.
The site include a brick monitoring building, used during WWII which was being maintained by ACMA and had not been damaged.
Cr Bishop said the building remained sound although it was now open to the weather and should be repaired quickly to save it from further degradation.
The property was leased by Isabella Alcock – also known as Ann Porter and “the goat lady’’ – who lived next door to the small building in a caravan.
She was often seen by passersby on the busy road as she tended her goats.
Ms Gibbs said it was heartbreaking that such a site could be vandalised so badly.
“It’s just a crying shame,’’ she said. “It probably took these imbeciles just overnight to destroy this thing.’’
Ms Gibbs said the site was of inestimable heritage importance to the Redlands and its destruction showed the lack of understanding and appreciation of much of Australia’s history by Australians.
