Press release announcing the installation of the Memorial Panel

Brisbane, June 9 – A new commemorative Memorial and Heritage display has been unveiled at the Pooh Corner Bushland Reserve in Wacol, bringing renewed attention to the largely untold story of Camp Columbia– one of Brisbane’s most significant World War II sites. While the installation is primarily educational in nature, its reflective tone and historical depth lend it a quiet memorial character, offering a place for visitors to pause and acknowledge the international cooperation and service that defined the site during and after the war.

With support from the Brisbane City Council’s Lord Mayor’s Better Suburbs Grants program and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Australia, the Camp Columbia Heritage Association (CCHA) has created a high-quality outdoor display to educate visitors about this important international heritage site.

Camp Columbia served as a major U.S. Army base during World War II and later became the administrative headquarters of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) government-in-exile from 1944 to 1947—the only time a foreign government has operated from Australian soil. The new display, located at the entrance to the Reserve’s walking tracks, presents a clear timeline from 1939 to 1947, highlighting American, Australian, and Dutch activities at the site.

“This project shines a light on a forgotten chapter of Brisbane’s wartime history,” said Paul Budde, Chair of the CCHA. “With the last visible remnants of the camp still located here, it’s crucial to protect and promote this site as a place of international heritage and remembrance.”

The cabinet has been mounted on the reverse side of an existing noticeboard near the Reserve entrance. While the front display remains focused on biodiversity and recreation, the new panel provides detailed historical context—including rare maps, photographs, and information on military operations and international cooperation.

Designed as both an interpretive Memorial panel and an informal memorial, the display invites reflection on the sacrifices and strategic alliances forged on this site during a pivotal moment in world history.

Pooh Corner Bushland Reserve is open to the public and forms part of a larger network of WWII heritage locations across Brisbane. Visitors are encouraged to explore the site and learn more about the Allied collaboration that took place here, which helped shape the outcome of the war in the Pacific.

Media contact:
Paul Budde
Chair, Camp Columbia Heritage Association
paul@paulbudde.com
0418438183

https://campcolumbia.com.au/

Photo caption:
The new Camp Columbia heritage display at Pooh Corner Bushland Reserve, Wacol. Funded by Brisbane City Council and the Netherlands Embassy, it highlights the site’s vital wartime history.

• Memorial at Pooh Corner https://campcolumbia.com.au/