Torrens Parade Grounds: In the Adelaide City region of South Australia with Keith Conlon
Mercifully it's all peace and quiet these days at the Torrens Parade Ground in the city but if you go back over sixty-five years to the beginning of World War Two it was all go.
In 1940 more than one thousand young men of the 2nd 10th Battalion assembled here for one last parade before they jumped on a ship and set off for the battlefields in North Africa.
Lined up to see them off were the first Anzacs. As the 1st 10th Battalion, they left here in 1914 to end up at Gallipoli. Doubtless they kept their thoughts about the horrors of war to themselves as their sons and nephews marched away to World War Two.
So on the eve of the sixtieth anniversary of Victory in the Pacific or VP Day we paid a visit to the Torrens Parade Ground. We met up with the History Trust's Margaret Anderson. She's based here so every day she sees why the place is so special to our ex-servicemen and women.
"They attach enormous significance to the building, but more I think to the parade ground itself which is where so many of the contingents went off to war," said Margaret. "The Boer War, First World War, Second World War. Lots of people mustered on the parade ground and there'd be parades."
Early photos show the Parade Ground when the South Australian artillery and infantry moved to their newly levelled home in the parklands.
But before that, what was once a riverside camping spot for the Kaurna People had been reduced to an ugly limestone quarry in the back paddock of Government House.
Stone for much of the Governor's residence and its garden walls was dug from here.
Just after that South Australia's troops were parading before heading to South Africa and the Boer War,
Come Federation in 1901, the Commonwealth bought the Parade Ground. So began a 'paper war' with the new national government over its plans to build the local HQ of the Australian Army along the King William Road side of the parade ground. "Not in the Parklands", said the Adelaide City Council. The Council and the State Government refused to give access across the lawns to King William Road.
Decades later, the Commonwealth finally built the handsome building we know today on its present site backing onto Kintore Avenue. It was opened in South Australia's Centenary year, 1936.
You'll notice the building is very 'Canberra' looking. It's built in what's called the 'Stripped Classical' style it's reminiscent of many federal buildings in the inter-war years.
The Commonwealth handed it all back to the state in 2001, the Centenary of Federation. Margaret says it was seen as a significant gesture.
"I think lots of people in South Australia feel it's theirs and even when the Commonwealth bought it, they still felt it was theirs," she said. "It's right in the middle of their city and they walked across it, and in the end the commonwealth had to concede their right of way..."
There are no fences and we can still freely walk across it. Step inside the refurbished drill hall where many an order has been barked and you find a sought-after exhibition and event space. Art exhibitions, trade shows and even school exams and fashion parades are common.
The restoration of the Drill hall incorporated a new home for the RSL's Memorial hall complete with honour rolls.
Upstairs, the rooms overlooking the Parade Grounds are home to ex-service groups like the RSL, the Airforce Association and Vietnam Vets.
You can get a well-priced beer in the Combined Ex-Services Mess and admire an extraordinary rare Nottingham lace depiction of the Battle of Britain over England and the Channel. The lace took two years to make.
The building is also home to the History Trust that has it's own exhibition gallery telling the South Australian story of Gallipoli.
After years away creating their own legends our troops came home at the end of World war Two and marched through the streets of Adelaide to joyous crowds.
Some of those blokes in their eighties now and after the Anzac Day services, they return to the Torrens Parade Ground to meet their mates.
Many will me there again on Monday August 15, which is the sixtieth anniversary of VP Day or Victory in the Pacific Day.
Celebrations will be held at the Parade Grounds with a thousand school children taking part. They will be given ration packs and will be teamed up with various companies and units. There will be displays, films, a fly-past, guided memorial walks and lots more. Everyone is welcome.
Sunday August 21 is Vietnam Veterans Day. After the service, they want us all to come back for what they promise is the biggest and best concert they've ever run. They'd love to see you. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
VP Day Celebration
Monday 15 August
Torrens Parade Ground
11am - 3pm
Free entryVietnam Veteran's Day
Sunday 21 August
Torrens Parade Ground
