Townsville and Lavarack Barracks: the early years

Abstract

[Extract] This thesis will provide insight into how the locality of Townsville was affected by global conflict in the mid-1960s. It will demonstrate how Australia's defence requirements during this period became linked to the civilian development of northern Australia. This thesis investigates the events associated with the planning, development and opening of Lavarack Barracks in Townsville during its formative years from 1964 to 1966. To provide a better platform for understanding and analysing these events and their consequences, this research is centred on the factors motivating the Government's decision to expand the Army's resources and the decision to locate the base in Townsville. It also examines the events associated with the advanced planning stage of the base project in 1965.