2/6th Australian General Hospital

Typical tent ward Rocky Creek, Queensland
AWM PO1641.023 Gaza Ridge, Palestine
History
Name	2/6th Australian General Hospital
Date formed	1940
Locations	Gaza Ridge, Palestine; Jerusalem, Palestine; Agria, Greece; Canea, Crete; Atherton, Australia; Labuan, Borneo;

General Information

The largest military hospital in north Queensland during World War II was built at Rocky Creek, on the railway line between Atherton and Mareeba. On 20 April 1943 the 2/2nd AGH was joined by the 2/6th AGH, who after serving two years in the Middle East had arrived back in Australia. The 1,200 bed hospital of the 2/6th AGH was built by AH Hodge and Sons of Toowoomba to a similar size to the 2/2nd AGH. The overall site also included the No 1 Australian Convalescent Depot with 1,000 beds.

Patients treated at the Rocky Creek Hospitals usually arrived in Cairns from Papua New Guinea, to be transported to Rocky Creek by the 4th Australian Hospital Ambulance Train, which ran three times a week.

The 2/2nd and the 2/6th Hospitals both employed a similar layout. The two hospitals consisted of 40 wards, offices, stores and other auxiliary buildings. The wards were laid out in pairs, with a service annexe in between, forming a cross-shaped footprint. Most wards were constructed with canvas, and measured 60′ by 20′ (18.3m by 6m). Early wards had earth floors, watered daily to make them firm, and a rattan carpet down the middle isle. Other buildings were constructed from timber and iron. Later wards were set on a concrete slab and had a capacity of approximately 50 patients.

By March 1944 both hospitals had been transformed from tent to hut hospitals and the bed capacity had increased to 1,400. However, by September 1944 the daily bed average had increased to 1,760. The buildings still had canvas walls but the floors were concrete and each ward had its own amenities, such as a wood stove, kerosene refrigerator, a permanent toilet and an office and dressing room. In October 1944 electricity supply, originally generator powered, switch to mains power.

The staged closure of the Rocky Creek Hospital Complex began in 1944, and continued through to 1945. The 2/6th AGH was the first to close, in October 1944.

Patients

Kilo 89

• Claude Raymond Anderson 23 Jul - 10 Sep 1942
• Ronald Gwynne 7 - 31 Dec 1942

Atherton Tablelands

• Ronald Gwynne 9 - 16 Jun 1943
• Walter Leonard Axford 16 Jul - 4 Aug 1944
• Eric Anderson 7 - 18 Sep 1944