WWII RAN Fuel Installation, Edge Hill, Military heritage site in Edge Hill, Australia
The WWII RAN Fuel Installation in Edge Hill is a former naval supply facility featuring five large storage tanks surrounded by concrete protective walls and several auxiliary structures. An underground pipeline once connected these tanks to Cairns wharves for fuel distribution.
The Royal Australian Navy and United States Navy built this facility in 1943 to store fuel during World War II. It served as a key strategic supply point supporting Allied operations across the Pacific region.
Three of the original storage tanks have been repurposed as the Tanks Arts Centre, hosting concerts, exhibitions, and theatrical performances. This conversion turned a military relic into a gathering space where the community experiences art and live entertainment.
The facility is located on Collins Avenue in Edge Hill, south of Mount Whitfield's foothills and near the Flecker Botanical Gardens. Visitors will find good orientation points and straightforward access to the site.
The location was deliberately chosen for its natural camouflage protection against air raids and positioned at a careful distance from the exposed wharf precinct. This strategic separation shielded the tanks from direct enemy attack throughout the war.
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