KENSINGTON TOWN HALL
UNDERGROUND "COMMAND BUNKER"
KENSINGTON, MELBOURNE, VIC,
DURING WW2

In about 1939-40, a command post was established under the Kensington Town Hall in Bellair Street, Kensington near the intersection with Racecourse Road in Melbourne, Victoria. Access to the area was via a lift-up timber door in the floor of the main stage. After descending a staircase one encountered a fireproof door. Behind this door is a large brick room with a number of ante-chambers.

Nine year old Les Hawker, who lived in Vine Street, was a Runner used by the authorities to deliver messages to the command room below the stage. This was mainly during exercises run by the military authorities. It is possible that this command bunker was an Air Raid Precautions Control Room similar to one that was rediscovered in Brisbane on 10 November 2006.

In early August 2007 Les Hawker returned to the Command Post with a journalist from the Moonee Valley Community News to relive his memories of 68 years ago.

The under stage Command Post is now used by Ballet Victoria to store Ballet Costumes.

REFERENCE BOOKS

Moonee Valley Community News
Secret of the Stage
by Goya Bennett
14 August 2007

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"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 2007

This page last updated 18 January 2020