Cairns Control Room, Military heritage site in Cairns City, Australia
Cairns Control Room is a reinforced concrete structure in Norman Park that served as a command center during World War II. A large fibreglass scout hat crowns its roof since 1982 and makes the building recognizable from a distance.
The building was constructed in 1942 by the Queensland Department of Public Works to coordinate air defense operations during the war years. After 1945, the military left the site and it took on new civilian roles.
The building shows how military spaces were repurposed for civilian life and shapes the neighborhood's character with its distinctive form. Visitors today can see how wartime structures found new uses after the conflict ended.
The building sits on Grafton Street in Norman Park and is easy to reach by public transport. The location offers visitors a straightforward look at the past without complicated access requirements.
This structure is one of only a few surviving wartime command centers in Queensland and has worn a hat-shaped roof ornament for over 40 years. The unusual monument shows how local communities preserve their military history and give it fresh meaning.
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