POSSIBLE VENTILATION TUNNEL
ORIGINALLY UNDER THE BURNS PHILP BUILDING
FLINDERS STREET EAST, TOWNSVILLE, QLD

In July 2008 Keith Townsend told me about a small "tunnel" he had located in the bank of Ross Creek in Townsville. It has the rusted remains of a steel sliding door. The "tunnel" runs under what would have been part of the original Burns Philp building in Flinders Street East which was demolished many years ago.

Is this a ventilation tunnel, an escape tunnel or a goods tunnel used by Burns Philp or something else? The entrance was probably originally located hidden under an old wharf which has since disappeared.

The small "Tunnel" can be seen in the middle of the photo

Photo:- Keith Townsend

Square tunnel in bank of Ross Creek, Townsville. Note the very old concrete.

Photo:- Keith Townsend

Square tunnel in bank of Ross Creek, Townsville

This "tunnel" was under the long lower section of the above original Burns Philp building which
was built in 1873. Only the higher part of the building closest to the camera still exists today.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Keith Townsend for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 23 July 2008

This page last updated 18 January 2020