Army Base

According to the Dept of Defence information sheet 1, the barracks were originally established as a World War I training area. It is difficult to find anything in the newspapers before the time, except for one "Sham Battle" (October 10 1900 in the DD Gazette) which described it in detail:

The point of defence was the township of Cabarlah, situated on a pleasant little plateau above the railway station. The immediate country afforded excellent scope for the attacking troops, whilst the garrison party had their position well placed by a natural and commanding view of the surrounding district. The vertex of defence was the junction of the Highfields and Reedy Creek Roads. The frontal, attack was faced on the Highfields side, southward; the rear at the railway station with the flank facing the eastern slopes of the range on the left, and the slope towards Reedy Creek (on the right). Lieutenant Munro had an excellent map prepared showing the roads and hills, cultivation, and timbered land for a radius of five miles. Each section of the force was supplied with a copy, which greatly facilitated their subsequent movements. The line of defence was fixed at the Highfields cemetery, east and west to Reedy Creek.

The ground from the cemetery to the bend on the main road beyond de Gruchy's was proclaimed neutral territory. It will thus be seen that the attacking party were allowed a diameter of over four miles to pass the outpost sentries, and two and a-half before they reached Cabarlah. The defending party consisted of fifty of the Toowoomba State School Cadet Corps, commanded by Lieutenant ]. Lane (?) of the Teachers' Volunteer Corps, a number of the Geham Rifle Club, and a section of Volunteer Cyclists. The cadets arrived by the morning train at Cabarlah after parading and marching to the Toowoomba station. Each of the boys was provided with four meals and a Wit (?) for camp. Lunch was partaken of at I o'clock in the police paddock, and the boys allowed to rest until 2.45, when Lieutenant Munro arrived and preparations were at once commenced for the defence. The cadets were again paraded and told off into four companies to defend the hill. No I Company was in charge of Cadet Officer Harding and occupied the eastern position, with Cadet Sergeant Gould in charge of Company No 2. The western slope was guarded by Companies No 3 and 4, under the command, of Officer Cadet Dark and Cadet Corporal Stormouth respectively. Later these two companies were assisted by Sergeants Healy and Gray, of the Teachers' Volunteer Corps. The boys were instructed in trench digging and how they were to work their positions during the engagement. The cyclists were Clarke, Doxey, Henzel, Goodwin, and Gorring, who acted as dispatch riders and scouts on the outposts. Their assistance during the afternoon was highly valuable, and illustrated in a marked manner the importance of an efficient cyclist corps attached to the defence forces. A constant stream of information was kept up between the main body and the outpost sentries every ten minutes, and a full knowledge of the situation was always on hand. From their knowledge of the district the outpost guard was entrusted to the younger members of the Geham Rifle Club with the cyclists. At 4 o'clock the defence was complete, and each man was at his post awaiting the attack, which consisted of thirty members of the Mounted Infantry, under the command of Lieutenant Annand, and twenty men from 'K' and 'N' Companies of the Queensland Volunteer Rifle. They later left Toowoomba for Spring Bluff at 2.30, under the command of Sergeant Brinkworth. A heavy march up the range tried the legs of the volunteers, but a long rest awaiting the mounted men at the English Church on the main road compensated for the heavy climb. The mounted men arrived with Major King about 6 o'clock and arranged with the Volunteers the line of attack. Like the defending party the company was divided into four sections. Sergeant Robinson was in charge of a division, which made a circuit to Reedy Creek in the hope of outflanking their opponents; Sergeant-major Halton marched his men at the back of de Gruchy's with the intention of storming the western slope: Major King, Lieutenant Annand and Sergeant McArthur were in command of the eastern sections and intended to surprise the garrison on the left. The sun had set and the moon rose, shedding its silver rays on the quiet little township of Cabarlah, which was soon to be roused with volleys from more than a hundred rifles. For half-an-hour after the attacking columns made the advance into the neutral territory nothing of note interfered with their progress until the division under Lieut Annand, approaching a farm house, met with their first surprise. The farmer, who became aware of the approaching division prepared to give them a reception with a few blank cartridges on his own account. In reply the house received a volley, and the farmer answered with his cockatoo gun. The house was eventually taken at the point of the bayonet, and the division continued their march. Meanwhile ' IC.' and 'N' Companies were making a frontal attack, and Robinson division were working, round when their ruse was discovered by Pvt Woodridge, who gave the signal of the first approach of the attack. Shortly afterwards all the scouts located the advancing party to the West, and the garrison advanced to meet them. The Eastern division were almost surprised by Lieut Annand's party, who came quickly up the hill, capturing the outpost (a cadet) who pleaded that all the ammunition was spent, to the amusement of his captors, who afterwards received a warm reception from Cadet Cey's No 1 and 2. The attack was now converging towards the Western slope of the hill, and the divisions under Hatton, Robinson, and McArthur were storming the fort. The Cadets awaited the attack with exemplary coolness, commanded by Lane, Munro, Gray, and Healey, Hatton and McArthur eventually captured sixteen of the garrison. However, it was argued that the attack was of a precipitous nature, and the boys held the position. After an hour's fighting the proceedings ceased, and all joined in hearty cheers. About nine o'clock the companies were marched off to their respective camping grounds, where they enjoyed a hearty supper before a blazing fire. After supper the bugle sounded, and the men were again assembled to receive instructions in the attack to be made from the Geham side of Cabarlah. The mounted contingent rode to Gebam, where their horses were turned out in Mr Munro's paddock for the remainder of the night. The attack and defence were arranged on similar lines to that in the earlier part of the night. This time the Volunteer Corps assisted the cadets in holding the position. There were a large number of visitors present. The Mounted Infantry began the attack in extended order at Mr J. Adams's farm. Halton led a division eastward, where he met opposition from the defenders under Gray's cadets. By an excellent feint he got through the lines unseen, and to the consternation of all attacked the garrison force from the rear of the Railway Hotel. Meanwhile the defenders, under Major King and Sergeant Gray, were safely entrenched along the railway line. The Geham Rifle Club came to the rescue and poured in a deadly cross-fire. 'K',and ' N ' Commands gallantly fought the infantry westward, and disputed the advance towards the lop of the hill, where the Utlle (?) became general. Sections and companies now became somewhat mixed, and it was only by the discharge of the gun, that the section were recognised. The explosion of the 'cadets' carbines was louder, and enabled the boys to relieve their companies in the direction of the fire. Lane's and Healy's forces were too far in in the rear to be of any particular use, though they prevented surprise in that direction. The bugle now sounded 'Cease fire,' and the men and cadets formed up at the back of the Board's Office. Officers and men numbered upwards of one hundred, and there must have been eighty visitors present. Major King addressed the assembly. He said it gave him great pleasure to be present that night. He was more than pleased with the excellent work done by the attacking and defending parties The engagements showed in a practical way what was possible in actual warfare. He was not present in an official capacity, but more as an umpire. He noted with pleasure that three of their returned comrades of the South African war were present that evening, and he was sure all would give them a hearty welcome. 

There are plans of the 101 Wireless Regiment Cabarlah from the National Archives with the name of owner Henry Rueben Hull on the map (Resumption (1 AC) but only gives a date range of 1926-1950, but was probably after 1945