The WWII Oil Storage Tunnels were built during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

to protect the oil stored in Darwin from Japanese bombing. Located below the cliffs of Darwin City in the Darwin Wharf Precinct on Kitchener Drive, a part of the Waterfront Precinct. By the time the tunnels were completed the risk from bombing had gone and the tunnels never stored oil. Today tunnel 5 and 6 are open for visitors.

History

In 1942, 11 above ground oil storage tanks were built on Stokes Hill. Japanese air-raids on the 19 February, 16 March and 16 June 1942 destroyed 7 of the 11 tanks. Following the destruction of the above ground oil tanks, it was decided that a bomb proof option was needed for the storage of oil. The

Allied Works Council The Allied Works Council was an organisation set up to oversee and organise military construction works in Australia during World War II. Established in February 1942, the Allied Works Council was responsible for carrying out any works required ...

was directed by The War Cabinet to investigate the possibility of underground tanks. In May 1942, the original consignment was for the Civil Construction Corps to build 11 tunnels at a cost of 220,000 pounds to hold 20,000 tonnes of oil. In April 1943, George Fisher was appointed Engineer-in-Charge of the secret project, known at the time as "The Safe Oil Storage". Not long after the construction of the tunnels started by 400 men. In 1943 the project funding rose from 220,000 to 850,000 to speed the completion of the project. When peace was declared in 1945, six of the storage tunnels had been completed. The tunnels interiors are horseshoe shaped in cross-section, concrete formed and steel lined. They have an internal width of 4.5 metres and a height of 5.4 metres. The tunnels were numbered 1, 5, 6, 10 and 11 with tunnel 3 located in Fort Hill which is now non-existent. The numbering of the tunnels suggest that a total of 11 tunnels were planned. Confrontation with Indonesia in the 1950s saw a need for the storage of jet fuel for RAF and RAAF bombers. The jet fuel was stored in tunnel 5 and 6 for 3 years. In the 1970s and 80's the Fire Brigade used the tunnels for training purposes by filling them with smoke.

Present Day

The tunnels were opened to the public on 19 February 1992 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the

Bombing of Darwin The Bombing of Darwin, also known as the Battle of Darwin, on 19 February 1942 was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia. On that day, 242 Japanese aircraft, in two separate raids, attacked the town, ships in ...

References

External links

* Tourist attractions in Darwin, Northern Territory World War II sites in Australia History of Darwin, Northern Territory {{Australia-WWII-stub