HPG is very disappointed the Harbour Trust still proposes to demolish the three timber Barrack buildings and not even retain one to complete the story of the Middle Head military village.
The Harbour Trust's reasons for demolishing the Barracks include that they were constructed as temporary accommodation, they are at the end of life and require significant capital cost to rehabilitate, they occupy land that is considered highly sensitive in terms of natural heritage and First Nations values of place, and bushfire risk.
HPG's position is that the Trust should retain at least one of the Barrack Buildings to retain the historic complex of buildings that make up the Middle Head military village and to tell the stories of the men who served there.
The article below, written by Kevin O'Brien, provides valuable historical background.
Users of the (timber) Barracks Buildings at Middle Head since these were built in 1951
by Kevin O’Brien, author of Defending Middle Head – A Short History
Introduction
After WW2, the Australian Army was downsized and held excess barracks nationwide. With the changed circumstances of the Cold War, there was a need to create a small regular (full-time) (volunteer) army. This would comprise, three Infantry Battalions and one Artillery Regiment as its core.
These units would be the basis of a regular 1st Brigade, and it would be based in Sydney. The infantry would be at Holsworthy, and the Artillery would be stationed at Middle Head/ Georges Heights. At that time, the only regular battalion and regular field battery that existed had been formed by volunteers from the AIF and was deployed as part of the occupation forces in Japan.
The 1st Field Regiment would become a composite regiment retaining all the three artillery disciplines of field gunnery, air defence and locating artillery – each had all been found vital in WW2. Coastal artillery would be disbanded.
Building of the Barracks at Middle Head & creation of the 1st Field Regiment
Examination of the existing facilities at Middle Head/ Georges Heights showed a shortage of permanent soldier accommodation. The decision was therefore made to build new, purpose-built soldier accommodation. The plans are dated 1951, and the purpose is described as being for 111 Anti-Aircraft Battery. This was an extraordinary decision at a time when excess military accommodation existed all over Australia and demonstrated the importance that the Army and the Menzies government gave to this place.
Occupation History of the Barracks
1951-57 – 1st Field Regiment (Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery), gunners from HQ Battery, 104 Locating Battery and 111 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery.
1958-68 – Intelligence Centre staff and temporary accommodation for all students attending courses.
The historically most important of these courses was for the first team deployed to South Vietnam in 1962. This team was specially chosen from the best available Non-Commissioned officers (NCOs) and officers in the Army. These men assembled at Middle Head for all their briefings and were given high-intensity training in the colloquial Vietnamese language. They also completed the Code of Conduct Course that was designed to increase resistance to interrogation if captured. A significant attendee on that course was Sergeant Ray Simpson, who was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Victoria Cross. Simpson is buried in Japan and consideration could be given to naming these barracks after him in recognition of his distinguished service in Vietnam and the link to this facility for his training.
1969-99 – 10 Terminal Regiment.
ABOVE: Sergeant Ray Simpson, VC DCM front row, left. Group portrait of the First Contingent, 1962-06, including reserves, for the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) assembled at the Intelligence Centre (10 Terminal Building), Middle Head, Mosman. Image: Australian War Memorial P01011.003
Evolution into a 'Military Village'
The raising of the 1st Field Regiment, as Australia's first ever regular regiment, meant that the Army needed to develop the location of Middle Head to support the permanent accommodation of soldiers, house and maintain their equipment, provide facilities for classroom training, provide parade grounds for drill; provide HQ offices and conference facilities; and provide suitable recreational and training facilities.
Before this time, Army unit facilities were only purpose-built for training, not accommodation, as the Army relied on part-time citizens (who lived at home) or in tented camps for collective training activities.
So evolved the 'military village' that is intact today. This included the creation of a first-class sporting oval and parade ground. The quality and style of the accommodation that provided views of the sea, spacious shared bathroom facilities and innovative ground floor recreation facilities was a remarkable development at that time. It provided a model for a 'military village', perhaps never bettered, even today.
Historical and heritage significance
The Commonwealth Heritage List listed this 10 Terminal Regiment complex on 22 June 2004. Details are: Place ID 105541. Place File number: 1/13/026/0026.
The relevant section of that listing is:
"The 10 Terminal Regiment complex comprises a range of buildings, including three weatherboard huts (Buildings 1, 14 and 18), formerly part of the adjacent former Middle Head Barracks. The School of Military Intelligence commenced in 1959. It was housed primarily in red-brick buildings with green Marseilles tiled hipped roofs reflecting, in general, the influence of the Inter-War Stripped Classical style employed at HMAS Penguin. Buildings of particular importance include Headquarters Building (1), Workshop and Rear Annexe (6 & 7), Officers Mess (2 and 3), and the later Other Ranks Accommodation (Barracks 1, 2, 3) comprising three 3-storey* weatherboard dormitory buildings."
(*Note: the buildings in bold are actually 2-storey)
Additional Information
Support for this listing did not reference the significance of these barracks as being the location of the first-ever regular artillery regiment and the development of the 'military village'. Demolition of any part of the complex (such as the guardroom, accommodation barracks, or the parade ground would destroy the 'military village'.
In addition, the listing does not reference the first-ever AATTV training course. It is probable that their accommodation barracks, the associated HQ building and training rooms, and the 'tiger cages' in the tunnels at Middle Head (together) are now the only tangible remnants of Australia's commitment to Vietnam. The combination is unique.
Read a review of Kevin O’brien’s Book Defending Middle Head – A Short History here >
To purchase a copy of Kevin’s book please email: savemiddlehead@gmail.org
For more information about the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam >