Named “The Bomb Shelter” because of the artwork inside, this nissen shaped hut wasn’t actually a bomb shelter at all; it was a secret semi-underground transmitting station.
Built west of the Gawler Airfield (north of Adelaide) along Two Wells Road it formed part of the major communication installations built in and around the town of Gawler during the Second World War.
Note: The names of certain people have been changed within this article to protect their identity.
Two years ago, while trawling the net, we discovered a short reference to a secret underground chamber beneath Hindley Street in the north-western corner of Adelaide. Rumoured to be gigantic in size, roughly 100 meters by 50 meters, it apparently ran under Hindley Street all the way down Leigh Street.
Whilst in the city a few weeks back, Joe and I were showing a mate of ours “D1” a few of Adelaide’s underground spots and I mentioned the rumoured underground chamber. D1 didn’t know of anything but suggested we talk to his mate “D2”. A few text messages later and confirmation: D2 knew of its existence!.. AND could get us in!
Hindley’s Keep was built in the depression around 1930. We’re not sure what its use was – information is sketchy at this stage as historic documents contained at the Adelaide City Archives have either been lost or stolen.
It’s taken 2 years, but let take a look inside…
For over 100 years (from 1855 to 1966) the Torrens Island Quarantine Station protected the people of South Australia from terrible diseases such as yellow fever, cholera, plague, smallpox, typhus fever, leprosy and influenza. Left all but abandoned it was once the state’s first line of defence for containing transferrable diseases.
Immigrants arriving in Adelaide were quarantined here before being allowed into the general population. Upon arrival passengers were transferred from boat via the jetty to the island. Their luggage inspected, fumigated and stored pending discharge. Individual disinfection was carried out in the large communal Bathing Block. People succumbing to infection were buried in the nearby cemetery.
