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WWII Secret Base

A major new attraction for an iconic Australian outback town.

The simple design has proved to be eye-catching and authentic, functional and cost effective.

Murweh Council have invested in a series of unusual tourism attractions that engage and educate tourist of all ages.

The WWII Secret Base project brings to life an important element of Charleville’s history in fun and engaging ways.

Visitors experience what life was like for the 3,500 United States Army Air Force personnel stationed in Charleville in 1943. The new interactive, educational base showcases ocean voyages, Top Secret information, classified missions and wartime romances. Budding pilots can also command their own bombing mission from inside a simulated B-17 Bomber.

REMINISCENT OF THE CLASSIC WWII QUONSET HUT

The success of the project has attracted Commonwealth funding for similar projects in Charleville.

Spantech helped design and deliver the ground-to-ground arched building that is a nod to the classic American WWII Quonset Hut. Spantech’s modern version of this classic design is a frameless building with no internal structure. It means the display space is completely open. Displays can be moved, updated and keep fresh and engaging without spending money to change internal support walls or the overall layout of the building.

Incorporating Spantech’s patented construction technology also made the project faster to build and more cost effective, so Council could allocate a greater portion of their budget to the displays and visitor experience.

The success of this project has spawned new attractions for Charleville. Architects have engaged Spantech to help deliver the Outback Museum of Australian (OMOA) planned to open in late 2024.

Client
Murweh Shire Council
WWII Secret Base Website

Location
Charleville, Qld

Architect
Brandon and Associates

Builder
CG Thompson, Charleville

Scope
Engineering design, structural steel package, and manufacture and install a ground-to-ground building in the style of a WWII Quonset Hut.

Products
Pinkenba 370