UPDATE JUNE 2006
The pictures below of the Sergeants Mess were taken in May 2006. When we returned in June 2006 to finish recording the base we found that demolition had proceeded quickly and that the Sergeants Mess was gone; this is all that's left. The large fan palm which flanked the main entry is visible but the buildings are now invisible. Even the childrens swings are now invisible! Lucky we visited when we did.

This is the former Wacol Base Sergeants Mess building showing some of the wings and the large fume extractors over the cooking area.

The main entry to the Wacol Base Sergeants Mess, flanked by what must once have been quite a majestic large palm tree.

The Wacol Sergeants Mess kitchen still has some of its fittings in place. It looks like the demolition workers might be using the sinks here.

The Wacol Sergeants Mess courtyard with its pergola and pleasant shaded area must once have been a nice place for casual lunches through to formal functions.

The entrance to the Wacol Sergeants Mess courtyard even featured a small pond water feature wgich is still in place.

A nice paved area and BBQ also graced the Wacol Sergeants Mess courtyard. You can still see the large garden lighting in the overgrown gardren next to the BBQ.

A swing set still sits outside the Wacol Sergeants Mess, not far from the Boundary St entrance, patiently waiting for the next little visitor.

The Officers Mess is already heavily demoloished.

This very army motto is inscribed above the doorway into a large empty room which must once have been the soldiers dining room.

This appears to have been the main bar of the Soldiers Mess (Soldiers Club?). On the other side is a similar but smaller bar - for the Corporals?

The old Soldiers Mess complex appears to have been quite extensive originally. There are two of these large fume and smoke extractor units on the ground in the old kitchen. From here, other wings contained dining rooms and recreation areas.

The bar of the Wacol Mushroom Club. The building contained the bar, an ante room and a garden area with BBQ.

The Wacol Mushroom Club interior.

The garden and BBQ area of the Wacol Mushroom Club.

An old mess hall complex near, and almost certainly formerly serving, the tentage or camping area (see separate page for details). Parts of the complex are WW2 igloo type construction and I'm sure date back to US Army days. The complex is shaped like a trident, with the tines being three separate, parallel dining halls (Officer, Senior NCOs & Soldiers?) joined by the kitchen area.

The exterior of the eastern dining hall of the old mess hall complex.

Looking west from the exit at the top (north) end of the western dining hall of the old mess hall complex across the parade ground toward the tentage area. The trees on the parade ground indicate that it has been disused for some time.

The entrance to the kitchen area of the old mess hall complex. Note the old hot water system.

The kitchen area proper of the old mess hall complex. This central cooking area is surrounded by small utility and office rooms and the whole complex is littered with wallaby and kangaroo droppings.

The cold storage / freezer for the old mess hall complex.

Like all the kitchens on the base, an extensive smoke and gas exhaust system was installed above the cooking surfaces of the old mess hall complex.

The east dining hall of the old mess hall complex.

The central dining hall of the old mess hall complex.

The west dining hall of the old mess hall complex.

There was a small secured area outside the kitchen section of the old mess hall complex, surrounded by a fence topped by barbed wire. It appears there may have been a gate large enough for a vehicle in the fence. If anyone knows what this area was used for I would love to hear from you.

The base contained a fully functional, well fitted out child care centre; a sign of the times.

We found this old sign lying face down. I'm not sure why it says Enoggera Barracks as that is a separate (and still functioning) establishment quite some kilometres away.

Bozo must have once graced some item of play equipment, but he's been waiting a long time since his last customer.

The child care centre had an outdoor area with an (now) overgrown sand pit, swings and BBQ.