The much extended Allen and Stark, Chermside Centre opened in a blaze of publicity in 1957 as the first drive in shopping centre in Brisbane and the largest in the southern hemisphere with its department store, supermarket and 22 specialty stores. In 2006, the extensions include 350 stores, new access roads via Kitty Hawk Drive and the 7th Brigade Park to the 6200 car spaces.

This is the site of the Chermside Army Base of 400 resumed acres after Sir Robert Menzies announced we were at war on September 3rd 1939. Over the years the site has been part of Wheller Gardens, the PMG training facility, Sparkes spelling paddocks and a training area for World War I.

As I sat at “Seafood Mania” on October 19th, observing the shopping frenzy, my thoughts went to the coupon books – tea, meat, clothing, butter, beer, tobacco and petrol of 6 gallons per month; “Smokes for Soldiers” campaign of Mrs Mole; the blacked out windows of houses, trams and trains.

A blur exists in the 21st Century between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’. My reflection was too vivid to appreciate the endless array of goodies on offer. From this site the war was fought. Coral Sea, New Guinea, Singapore, the bombing of Darwin. I say, because of this site, we won the local war.

I sat and mused over the war years; the regular nightly training marches in full kit were made from Chermside to Cash’s Crossing and back, to the beat of a kettle drum. The Yanks from Camp Strathpine on 15 Pounds a week and the Aussies from Camp Chermside on 3 Pounds per week and the Saturday dancing at the Aspley Hall and competing for scant female company; the water filled air raid shelters in schools and in our own paddock off Fred Campbell Drive; the 78 acre top secret RAAF airwave monitoring station in Beams Road; my 16 year old Dad signing up to the militia at Post Office Square (with the help of a sargeant to alter his birth certificate by a year); the loss of 268 lives when the Centaur hospital ship was torpedoed in shark infested water off Caloundra in 1943.

In the ‘30’s and ‘40’s, I know the shopping mecca of Westfield Chermside would have failed. No need existed for their array of fashion and food; no money existed to buy beyond the basics.

I will go and have a proper look as Sue tells me the 620 metre walk from end to end is good for me. It may be a Scottish aversion to spending that does not let me fully appreciate the shops but I had a great time, watching the passing parade and reflecting upon the importance and relevance of this site to those basic rights and freedoms we take for granted today.

My suggestion for a gift is a book by a local Professor Jonathon Ford, ISBN 0975848100 “The Chermside Army Camp Remembered”. Jack, thanks for the memories – a good read.

As for “Seafood Mania” – Top food. Underground Pork - Not on the menu.
As for fashion – I’ll take Sue’s word for it.

Peter Campbell Realty lists rents and sells in all Northside suburbs. If you have any older photos of early Chermside, please may I borrow them to scan into our files. In the meantime, if you have any reminiscences of any northiside suburb, please email me at www.petercampbellrealty.com

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Peter Campbell - 0418 774 663