"HARBURY" 39 ACKLAND STREET
SOUTH YARRA, MELBOURNE, VIC
USED BY SERVICES RECONNAISSANCE DEPARTMENT (SRD)
DURING WW2

"Harbury", a house at 39 Ackland Street, South Yarra in Melbourne, Victoria was used as the Headquarters for Services Reconnaissance Department (SRD) during WW2. SRD's role was to undertake acts of sabotage in enemy-occupied territories and harbours. SRD had previously occupied "Airlie" at the corner of Punt Rd and Domain Rd but they were forced to relinquish this property possibly to the Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB).

SRD was under the control of Lieutenant-Colonel P.J.F. Chapman Walker of the British Army who had his offices at 39 Ackland Street. When they were forced to vacate "Airlie", Chapman-Walker moved his Stores, Medical, Finance and Administration sections to the nearby Army Engineers' Depot in Batman Avenue.

SRD's Headquarters moved to Morotai in April 1944, however 39 Ackland Street retained its supply function until the end of the war.

Frances Dennis contacted me on 3 October 2024 and advised that her father Thomas Carlyle Ferguson, worked at "Harbury" in1943. His Trade Grouping was Class T.G.I. Draughtsman Class A. He was a Corporal when he was in the Services Reconnaissance Department. He was later promoted to Sergeant when he was in the GSIO (SO) Services Reconnaissance Department.

Authority and Identity Pass to "Harbury" for Cpl. T. C. Ferguson

Cover for Authority and Identity Pass

Authority and Identity Pass to "Harbury" for Sgt. T. C. Ferguson

Cover for Authority and Identity Pass

Frances told me that he was transferred to “Z" special Section LHQ ("Z" Special Unit) in 1944. Frances said that he did lots of various drawings based on information brought back from incursions made by military operatives in "Z" Special Unit to Singapore. Frances has seen these drawings but it was a long time ago. She thinks her brother may still have them. Frances advised that her father was somehow involved in some Intelligence work connected with Rottnest Island but she didn’t know what or when.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Frances Dennis and Graham Shirley for their assistance with this home page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 25 November 2002

This page last updated 04 October 2024