As you're approaching the last stop, the Cairns Control Room, keep an eye on your right. You're looking for a small, squat building with a distinctive round brown roof that almost looks like a hat. The building is square with small, barred windows and a plain, somewhat weatherworn door in the front. Painted directly onto the building, in bold letters, is "SCOUT SHOP," along with several large scout emblem murals - these should be easy to spot from a distance.
Welcome to the Cairns Control Room, a heritage-listed military building with a fascinating story! Built in 1942 by the Queensland Department of Public Works, this place was crucial during World War II. It's had many names over the years, including the World War II Volunteer Defence Corps, the Cairns Scout Hut, and the Cairns Scout Shop.
During the war, especially after the dramatic events like the attack on Pearl Harbor and the fall of Singapore, a more substantial building was needed for a civil defence control centre. This reinforced concrete building served as a control room for the Volunteer Defence Corps, police, and ambulance service to coordinate emergency services in case of air raids.
Post-war, the building survived and found a new purpose. By the mid-1950s, it was handed over to the Scouting Association of Queensland and became the local scout headquarters.
Imagine, this building was a beehive of activity during the war, with Air Raid Protection Committees planning emergency responses and air raid wardens ensuring compliance with blackout regulations and drills. It's like the Avengers' headquarters, but with more khaki uniforms and fewer capes!
As you stand here, picture this little building playing its crucial part in keeping Cairns safe during one of the most turbulent times in history. It’s a tiny building with a giant story!
