The American Invasion of Parkville: Melbourne in WW2

Although Royal Park in the inner north of Melbourne is a huge expanse of green space today, it has been used for many different things in the past - especially by the military. Camp Pell, or 'Camp Hell' was it was later known, was the best-known of these during and after the Second World War, and served other uses too.
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My website: philipmallis.com
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See video notes and sources here (it's too large for the description) github.com/phi...

[@billd01rfc]

US 1 Marine Division also has the Southern Cross on their divisional patch, and every deployed base is still called Camp Matilda. Very strong Australia connecton continues.

[@pauljenks4901]

Two points, 1st, parts of Camp Pell had Nissen Huts that were dismantled in 1950s and distributed to local councils and the Boy Scouts for Halls across Melbourne, many still exist. 2nd, air raid trenches were commonly dug near buildings used by AIF or US Army across Melbourne. Many started as a tunnel from a building to a trench. I'm aware of a Heritage building not far away from Camp Pell that had to be underpinned in the 2000s due to a forgotten tunnel collapsing.

[@judileeming1589]

My friends aged 91 and 90 moved into Camp Pell when they were first married prior to obtaining public housing in Maidstone or Braybrook and later Heidelberg. I believe they mentioned that a relative of theirs had something to do with the assignment of housing people at Camp Pell and that there was a distinctly better and not so good part of the camp.

[@breeophel3883]

Phillip, My paternal family lived at "Camp Hell" prior to being housed in a new commission house in East Reservoir in 1956, just across Darebin Creek , from the Olympic Village, my Grandparents were infamous for leading actions to end the slum housing at the camp The house they were given in East Reservoir still stands today

[@brianscully5299]

My Mother, Farther,younger Brother and I lived at Camp Pell for awhile. I do not remember when we moved there approx 1946/7, then in late 1948 or early 1949 we then moved into a Housing Commission house in Gona Court Alamein. My Mother hated it when I referred to having lived in Camp Pell. I have some photos of me outside our unit in Camp Pell, I am not sure where at the moment, will have to look for them

[@keithfalcao1844]

Hi Brian , my mum and aunt grew up in camp pell. My aunt just told me that mum was so ashamed she’s never spoken about it since, even to her kids. Thanks for sharing

[@dajarragolding6866]

I believe that that the Northcote Scout Hall (located next to Thornbury station) is a building relocated from Royal Park used at the time of the camp. There may be many more scattered across the burbs of Melbourne for those with a keen eye!

[@philipmallis]

Thanks for letting me know! Just had a quick look and it certainly looks likely. You're right - I expect that after the camp ceased operations they donated some of the buildings to whoever wanted them at the time

[@jag2612]

There's a few military looking buildings along the line. The rifle club in northcote and the scout hall in Preston come to mind.

[@torpedodropkick59]

Western suburbs, Yarraville Footscray most likely too!

[@adriandunne4382]

The rifle club building was moved there in the 1920s from its previous site on the eastern side of Ruckers Hill due to the road being widened; this area had been an actual rifle range.@@jag2612

[@breeophel3883]

There are several Nissen Huts ect which found new purpose in new locations

[@montecarlo1651]

Hello Philip, the history of Royal Park is worthy of its own video. On the issue of the Americans, my grandmother used to recount a tale of her and a girlfriend walking home through the City after work. She could hear the sounds of heavy boots behind her (keep in mind the Leonski murders at the time). Without turning around, she heard one of the men say to the other 'I'll have the goil with the coils', meaning my grandmother (who was married). Hearing her repeat the Noo Joisy accent always brought a laugh. And no, he didn't get the goil with the coils that night.

[@pa_petesworkshop8483]

Thankyou for the video. My Grandparents were in Camp Pell in 1949. Gave me an insight to what life was like for them. 😞

[@RGC198]

Hi Philip, interesting video. When I first visited Melbourne from Sydney with my dad on holiday back in January 1967, we stayed at the Parkville Motel, which was right near Royal Park. These days my family and I live at Mt Waverley, after moving here from Sydney in late May1981. However, Parkville was my first experience of seeing Melbourne and it remains fond in my memory. Anyway, take care and all the very best. Rob.

[@letsseeif]

Thanks Philip. You've filled in much about Camp Pell and surrounding areas which up to now were a mystery.

[@xr6lad]

Great video. As a history buff and being 56 I knew about the camp but you filled in some great information and blanks. My partner's mother, when a young girl had 2 American soldiers billet with them in Bendigo (they had a huge gold rush mansion that's now since the 1950's a government office).

[@MrLeedebt]

I was reading recently about the incredible returns that the goldmines in Bendigo gave investors, in a time when there was no income tax too.

[@bryan3550]

Fascinating stuff, Philip. It is surprising so little seems to be known of the site any more... Glad to see reference in the outro to the splendid tram route which cuts through the park! An unique and scenic ride!

[@Agent4286]

I live near La Trobe University and there were multiple hospitals and asylums in the area. most of laurendale has been torn down for development and LTU bought mont park asylum and turned it into the terraces. I've been looking into some of the history here and it's fascinating through I haven't found that much as of yet.

[@romandybala]

"Larundel"

[@bryan3550]

It had it's own railway branch line bringing in supplies too! The branch came off the Hurstbridge line just near Macleod station but actually had nothing to do with the western platform still in use...

[@garynewton1263]

Black Panthers have been sighted many times in the Grampians and Otways since the 1940s. My sighting of a Black Panther occurred in Dec 2004 on a windy gravel road about 3-4 kms east of Spargo Creek. I was driving at about 40 kph and It leaped about 6ft in front of my car from the right to the left. Spread out it would have been around 8ft long at least. And it was super fast.

[@antruok4950]

Great detail and quality editing - it’s a real interesting area - I have come across items from 1890s there

[@pauls8456]

They played baseball on the cricket pitch just over the Yarra from Studley Park Boathouse.

[@xr6lad]

I think there was a camp at Dandenong as well next to the scout hall and in my mind I think Broadmeadows as well. But of course back then they were outside Melbourne.

[@Geo_Unveiled]

Carrum Downs I think too!

[@msinc]

Would love to see the Maribyrnong Explosives Factory covered in this series.

[@DCCXXjay]

I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING WHILE WATCHINGTHIS!!!

[@philipmallis]

Funny that, I was already writing and researching for that as a future video! Great suggestion then :)

[@icascone]

Thanks for these videos! :)

[@philipmallis]

Thank you!

[@demmyonline]

I went to Camp Pell a few times when my parents visited a migrant family from Hungary. I was probably about 10 or 11 (1952-53) and the part of the camp I visited was a bustling tent city. It was night and the place was lit with low wattage light bulbs like the fairy lights of years gone by. We met the people outdoors and walked around, possibly because their living quarters were out-of-bounds. They moved from Camp Pell to a lovely home in Reservoir. I tried doing some research a year or so ago because my friends hadn't heard of it. You've published two stories so far that Melbourne friends my age knew nothing about. The other was the Fisherman's Bend Airstrip.

[@davidmccrory5604]

Very informative and interesting thankyou 👍

[@philipmallis]

Thank you!

[@beedee9236]

I really enjoy your videos and series. Please keep it up! Lots of good history in our town. Could you explain the term agricultural experiments? It sounds ominous but might not be.

[@xr6lad]

They can include new methods of growing crops or creating new disease resistant ones. Or even improved breeding methods. They also had such government labs down Werribbee way at one time. Doesn't mean necessarily (which is I assume what you fear) experimenting on cows by transplanting limbs.

[@philipmallis]

@@xr6lad Thank you! And yes @xr6lad is right. The Heritage Council have a bit more information here: heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/ROYAL-PARK-ED-Rec-Feb-2014.pdf "An experimental, or model, farm was established in 1858 in Royal Park as a means of testing different pasture crops, farming techniques and farming equipment in local conditions so to benefit the agricultural progress of the colony. The experimental farm was regarded as a progressive public institution, introduced at a time of significant agricultural development in the colony. Ploughing matches, which drew large crowds, were held here, reflecting the high importance placed on agriculture in a young rural-based economy."

[@legoqueen2445]

Obviously it means Aliens probing cows.

[@thethirdman225]

One of Camp Pell’s better known former residents is businessman Kerry Stokes, owner of the Seven Network. Good work, BTW.

[@michaeljoshualewis538]

First comment Phill,some said it was camp HELL, actually that was me,mate,early 90s I had the privilege of doing a furniture delivery in the old ADI Camp in western Sydney, it was to the caretaker's home,the amount of native animals was astounding, it was well fenced and any cats or dogs found in the area were killed,it was a view into what the area really looked like hundreds of years ago, we were given a tour as it was the last delivery of the day,it took 30 minutes by 4 wheel drive at about30 kilometers an hour and we seen koalas,kangaroos and many native birds,about 25% of the place was cleared,half of that near the northern road,the grenade building area and other weapon building sites were spaced from each other,it definitely should have been left in its entirety for preservation of what our city formerly looked like it was mostly forest like,thanks mate,lol

[@philipmallis]

Thank you! Yes it's amazing what's hidden away out there

[@romanr9977]

Burke and Wills set off for their ill-fated expedition to the Gulf of Carpentaria from Royal Park. And the native grassland circle was a campsite originally for the Wurundjeri who performed corroborees there. FYI it been whittled down now to 170 hectares.

[@legoqueen2445]

You're doing a great job with these videos!

[@boxboxbox196]

Very interesting video. There was another military base in the Melbourne area during WW2. Wasn't forces stationed at the MCG! Keep up the good work.

[@philipmallis]

Thank you! And yes there were many military establishments around the city. The MCG was also used to house troops (US soldiers for most of the time) as well as other sites in Rowville, Watsonia, Fawkner and heaps of others. Peter Dunn over at OzAtWar has a great list of pretty much all of them which you can see here www.ozatwar.com/ozatwar/militarycamps.htm

[@boxboxbox196]

@@philipmallis Thank you for your reply. Will have closer at Peter Dunn's web site - it looks very interesting

[@davidmccrory5604]

Thanks Phil Keep em coming so interesting and informative 👌

[@hypercomms2001]

Can I suggest that you investigate the prisoner of war camp that existed in and around Melbourne during and just after the war, I am aware that at Rowville there was an Italian prison of war camp. It was sited where the High Voltage substation exists now.

[@johnyoung1128]

My father lived in nearby Kensington at the time and has said several times that his mother impressed on him and his siblings not to go near camp Pell because the soldiers weren’t to be trusted. The Leonski matter didn’t do anything for the camps reputation!

[@phillipnoone8044]

Another great video!

[@bmackenzz]

excellent as always

[@philipmallis]

Thank you!

[@alanreynolds8843]

Hi there Phillip , I know you have an interest in railway stations ect . Are you aware that Springvale Botanical Cemetery & crematorium used to have a railway station for the " funeral train " which took coffins ( bodies) to the new crematorium. The railway track & station no longer exists. Also American servicemen who died here in WW2 were buried in the cemetery with a large American monument. Later the bodies of these servicemen were repatriated back k to America. This would make a sensational utube episode. You can get all the information at Springvale Botanical Cemetery. Cheers 😊

[@knome739]

thank you for your video,its rumoured that the american hq bunker,fully stocked is under the current tennis courts,so it would not get disturbed,also there was a large earth cave in nearby that took a lot to refill,tunnels still exsist between the major hospitals as they shared steam used

[@1mmickk]

I worked for the MCC and in the 80s we looked at what survives underground and what does not and what is myth. Theres no hidden rooms, no stashed guns, ammo or vehicles. Theres no holes, tunnels, or caves. There never was. What there is is conduits that might be called tunnels that have always carried pipes of one form or another below ground. Melbourne was one of the first cities in the world to have electricity, so that too is under ground in large conduits. Before that, we had Hydraulic power supplied from the Yarra, that too remains underground. Theres lots of basements that were used during the war and all of the below ground public toilets in the city were used as air raid shelters, the loud speakers you can still see to this day. If you want to know where the remains of the old Melbourne Hydraulic lift system are, just ask me. But sadly no, theres no secrets from the War under Melbourne that people dont know about.

[@1mmickk]

The only thing found in the last 60 years of any note was the stump of a large gum tree, under Russell St, cut down in 1840s 50s, dated to 1400s. The Melb Museum we took it to, just up the road, what they done with it who knows.

[@servantofgod5642]

love this stuff !

[@torpedodropkick59]

Great research! Thanks

[@voxac30withstrat]

You should do a video on the Brisbane brawls

[@jackchaos100]

Can you do deer park that's where I live

[@torpedodropkick59]

They used the MCG too!

[@hypercomms2001]

Any chance that you could do a KZbin video about the slums of Melbourne, as well as the slum clearance program?

[@philipmallis]

Thanks for the idea! I've touched on the slum clearances a few times in some videos (e.g. Garden City, the F2 Forgotten Freeway) but it would be an idea to do one on the whole program!

[@hypercomms2001]

@@philipmallis Good on you.. especially in Carlton, Collingwood, Fitzroy... Port Melbourne and compare them to what they look like now....

[@hypercomms2001]

@@philipmallis I hope you don't mind me making another suggestion, but in 10 years Melbourne will be 200 years old, and that means every suburb in Melbourne would have an amazing history... Perhaps create histories on each individual suburb of Melbourne, such as what the area was like before people moved in, maps of the area at the time of establishment, the early people who came to live in that suburb, and the evolution of each suburb over time from foundation to the present....something like what "@walkaboutwithrob" does as guide perhaps?!

[@chrisive1640]

Wasn't Royal Park also the area that was used by the Burke and Wills Expedition before they headed north?

[@pbosustow]

Hi Phillip, I heard many years ago that MacArthur road, that runs through the middle of Royal Park, was constructed by the Americans who were at the time under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. It seems plausible, is there any evidence to confirm it?

[@philipmallis]

Hi, yes that is true as far as I know. Not all of the road that we know today was built at the same time though, hence why part of it is under a different name of Elliot Avenue.

[@pbosustow]

@@philipmallis Thanks for the reply Phillip, keep up the great work.

[@EmilyW.isawakenotwoke]

Can you please try and get into the tunnels underneath the fruit markets

[@garynewton1263]

This gives a clue as to why there are so many Wildcats in rural Victoria. I have seen a Black Panther leap in front of my car on a windy gravel road in 2004. I won't say exactly where it was because I don't want people going there to look for them. But.......they ARE real and Victoria has more of them than any other state!!!!

[@garynewton1263]

@@jennyrodgers1213 Sherbrooke? In the Dandenongs? That close to a big city. Was it a Black Panther or a smaller black domestic cat? My sighting was out West of Melbourne...........in the bush.

[@MrLeedebt]

I believe a former Supreme Court Judge grew up there. Melbourne University was a mere stroll down the road for him.

[@voxac30withstrat]

I was fascinated when I read that during the war the Japanese actually flew over Melbourne. People said that couldn't or wouldn't happen but as usual people who use that sort of denial, were wrong. What's the difference between a Conspiracy Theory and Fact - About 6 months

[@torpedodropkick59]

There is a legend or urban myth that there is a tunnel under Royal Park to the Hospital!

[@1mmickk]

Theres lots of interconnecting tunnels between melb hospitals. Some are still used for patient transfer, most are just conduits. Back in the day, all operating theatres were below ground to avoid bomb damage, this was a world wide practice but abandoned today. So tunnels were very practical back in the day, one hospital gets blown up, all move to the next via underground.

[@adriandunne4382]

The tunnels were (and still are) used mainly for steam pipes, as unlike other services steam pipes cannot be buried directly in the ground. The tunnels at Royal Park were constructed in the 1960s to supply steam from the boiler house at the Royal Melbourne Hospital to the newly built Royal Childrens Hospital and were extended to the replacement hospital. They did not exist during World War 2.

[@DonnaDerossi]

I am a remote viewer with a lot of experience and good accuracy. Although I was born a long time after the war I see the Americans had plans on making Queensland a remote territory of the US. The signs are everywhere from the underground tunnels to the laws urban planning (street names) ,and government policies (its in the details) they were after the natural resources this does not surprise me.

[@SirDaffyD]

My Great Grandmother had a house in Parkville during WWII. She took in American soldiers during the war. At the start, she took in both black and white soldiers. But early on there was an issue when she had a black soldier staying. Some white soldiers came to lodge, but said "We're not staying here with any N$%%^rs". My great grandmother told them where to go in no uncertain words, pointing out that they're all fighting on the same side. She only entertained black soldiers lodging at her place after that for the rest of the war.

[@nathbomb8958]

That place would've been so loud then