Information

In 1947 Camp Columbia land north of the railway line was leased from the Army to become the Wacol Housing Camp. Initially, the government provided minimal services – retaining the military like communal bathrooms and laundries – and charged a minimal rent. Gradually, they converted some huts to family units. In July 1949, the Courier Mail reported – “To provide additional temporary housing at Camp Columbia, Wacol, army buildings at former headquarters and block B will be converted into 66 temporary housing tenements for that number of families. Already 160 families are living at Camp Columbia.” Ultimately there were 12 camps around Brisbane providing temporary accommodation. In 1950, the Housing Commission reported 1200 people at the Wacol camp – and there were waiting lists. Meanwhile, the government was pressing ahead with building rental estates such as Inala – and many of the first Housing Commission tenants in 1953 were from the Wacol Housing Camp. The last Housing Camp in Brisbane closed in 1960.

Citations

Vicki Mynott, ‘Wacol, Wolston, Woogaroo (1823-2014), Vol 1’, Inala Heights: Richlands, Inala and Suburbs History Group Inc., 2014.

Image Citations

Map References

QSA. QSA Series ID 2058 Moreton District Maps – A Series. 6 miles to the inch. Moreton District. 6 miles to the inch. Survey Office, Brisbane. 634953