Birdum, Northern Territory
Encyclopedia
Birdum was a railway settlement in the Northern Territory
and the terminus of the North Australia Railway from 1929 until the outbreak of World War II
.
While the town remains virtually unheard of, even amongst Territorians, it features on an unusually high proportion of vintage 20th century world globes
, thanks to the position it once held at the end of the line.
From World War II onwards trains terminated at Larrimah
, nine kilometres to the north, and Birdum lost not only its position of importance but also its pub, which was uprooted and shifted to Larrimah as a result.
Much of the railway infrastructure remained in place until the line closed in 1976.
civilian population was evacuated and the evacuees were transported by rail to Birdum siding where they were transferred to an army convoy to take them to Alice Springs
.
An evacuation hospital was constructed at Birdum by the U.S. Army 135th Medical Regiment in September 1942.
The Royal Australian Air Force
constructed a Base Personnel Staff Officer (BPSO) and Telcommunications Camp near Birdum.
No. 11 Signals Unit RAAF, which was part of No. 55 Operational Base Unit (OBU) was based at Birdum. The unit would be on aircraft listening watch and have to listen for a word which would indicate the air raid against enemy forces or bases had been successful or not. The equipment used was Kingsley AR7 receivers.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
and the terminus of the North Australia Railway from 1929 until the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
While the town remains virtually unheard of, even amongst Territorians, it features on an unusually high proportion of vintage 20th century world globes
Globe
A globe is a three-dimensional scale model of Earth or other spheroid celestial body such as a planet, star, or moon...
, thanks to the position it once held at the end of the line.
From World War II onwards trains terminated at Larrimah
Larrimah, Northern Territory
Larrimah is a tiny hamlet in the Northern Territory of Australia. It has a population of 18. It is built along the Stuart Highway and offers petrol and supplies to passing motorists. It was the railhead on the North Australia Railway during World War II....
, nine kilometres to the north, and Birdum lost not only its position of importance but also its pub, which was uprooted and shifted to Larrimah as a result.
Much of the railway infrastructure remained in place until the line closed in 1976.
World War II
After the bombing of Darwin during World War II, the DarwinDarwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
civilian population was evacuated and the evacuees were transported by rail to Birdum siding where they were transferred to an army convoy to take them to Alice Springs
Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Alice Springs is the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Popularly known as "the Alice" or simply "Alice", Alice Springs is situated in the geographic centre of Australia near the southern border of the Northern Territory...
.
An evacuation hospital was constructed at Birdum by the U.S. Army 135th Medical Regiment in September 1942.
The Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
constructed a Base Personnel Staff Officer (BPSO) and Telcommunications Camp near Birdum.
No. 11 Signals Unit RAAF, which was part of No. 55 Operational Base Unit (OBU) was based at Birdum. The unit would be on aircraft listening watch and have to listen for a word which would indicate the air raid against enemy forces or bases had been successful or not. The equipment used was Kingsley AR7 receivers.
External links
- Friends of the North Australia Railway
- Around the World in a Morris Minor. Pictures, made by Kerry Whitfield in 2004.
- Military Units based at Birdum during WW2.