World War II, Published 8 March 2026
Albion’s Unexpected WW2 Past: The Chemical Warfare Depot at Crosby Park.
Crosby Park in Albion (Queensland) played a surprisingly important role during the Second World War, when part of it was taken over by the U.S. Army Chemical Warfare Service (CWS). From 1943 to 1945, the site functioned as a storage and training area supporting American operations across the Southwest Pacific. The CWS in this theatre focused less on offensive chemical weapons and more on defence, logistics, and equipment management - things like gas‑mask training, smoke generators, decontamination gear, and the safe handling of hazardous materials.
The location suited the U.S. military perfectly. Albion sat close to Brisbane’s wartime industrial corridor, with rail access and proximity to major American hubs at Eagle Farm, Hamilton, and Newstead. Crosby Park offered open ground where temporary warehouses, fenced compounds, and training structures could be erected quickly. Most of these wartime buildings were dismantled after 1945, which is why the site’s military past is largely invisible today.
The depot formed part of a wider network of CWS facilities scattered around Brisbane, including sites at Kangaroo Point, Colmslie, and Inala. These installations supported both U.S. and Australian forces, who were preparing for the possibility of chemical warfare in the Pacific. Troops passed through Crosby Park for instruction in gas defence, equipment maintenance, and procedures for handling dangerous munitions under tropical conditions.
Historical records show that several hazardous materials were stored at the Crosby Park site, including mustard gas (HD), phosgene, lewisite, smoke pots and grenades, and various decontamination chemicals. It’s a striking reminder that a place now known for sport and community life once played a quiet but significant role in the Allied war effort.
B&W Image - ca. 1945 Crosby Park in Albion - Public Domain
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