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Local History Sites

Military Reserve (1892) & Orderly Room (1895)

Description

Military Corps Forms In Lowood

Lowood's first volunteer infantry corps was formed about 1892 and became K Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Moreton Regiment, Queensland Defence Force. 

A drill ground was created on the southern side of Lowood railway yards but initially it had no facilities. The Regimental Commandant's Report in September 1892 noted "There is no shed of any description at Lowood (military reserve)." 

First Commanding Officer Capt J.F. Flewell-Smith

Lowood's first Commanding Officer was Captain (later Colonel) John Francis Flewell-Smith (below right), a popular local who led the heroic rescue of the Vernor family in the 1893 floods and later served in the Boer War and WW1.             

                   

In October 1894 the Government Gazette recorded, "Tender Received - Orderly Room for Defence Force at Lowood, Jonathan Nock, £41.15 shillings." In 1895 several buildings were erected at the military ground and the Orderly Room dates from that time. The site plan (above left) from the Australian National Archives confirms the locality of the Lowood's "Drill Hall Area". 

In 1897 the colony's mounted infantry units were reorganised as companies of Queensland Mounted Infantry and Lowood was put in B Squadron with Gatton and Laidley.

Lowood Recruits Off To Boer War

At the outbreak of the Boer War in 1899, army contingents were raised by the six Australian colonies to support Great Britain and, from 1901, by the new Australian Commonwealth.

'Frank' Flewell-Smith was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer of the 5th Contingent Queensland Imperial Bushmen (5QIB), comprising 22 officers, 479 other ranks, 450 horses and "51 cyclists". 

His brother Malcolm, a local farmer, had preceded him to South Africa with the 2nd Queensland Contingent in January 1900 and another brother Norman followed in April 1901 with the 6th Contingent.

The 5th Contingent left for South Africa on 'Templemore' in March 1901. Lieutenant Colonel Flewell-Smith spent over a year in South Africa and was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal and five clasps (below). 

Lowood Rifle Range 

In January 1905 the Queensland Times reported "...the purchase of certain land from the Government of Queensland for £260 for a rifle range at Lowood." It was situated to the west of town along what became Rifle Range Road. Now the Lowood troop had access to a proper range for rifle practice. 

Temporary Home for School of Arts

From 1905 to 1908 the Orderly Room was leased to Lowood School of Arts, which lacked premises of its own before its hall was built in Railway Street in 1910. 

Lowood's Light Horse In Famous WW1 Battles 

In 1912 Lowood became part of the 2nd Light Horse Qld Mounted Infantry, with Esk, Toogoolawah, Marburg and Rosewood.  In WWI the 2nd Light Horse and other Australian forces saw action at Gallipoli and in Egypt, Sinai, Palestine, France and Belgium.

Records show that 72 men born in Lowood, Fernvale and surrounding communities volunteered for military service and 15 were killed in action. Many others living and working in the district also volunteered.

Lowood Volunteers Enlist In WW2 

At the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Lowood was part of 2/14 Light Horse that became a component of the 1st Cavalry Brigade. In 1940 the 14th Light Horse (it included Lowood) was reformed as the 14th Motor (Machine Gun) Regiment; it was disbanded in 1942.

Orderly Room Escapes Two Fires

Twice this building was almost lost to fires. When the first Royal Hotel, Lowood Hall and two other buildings across the road were destroyed in a fierce blaze in 1904, it was saved by the bucket brigade.

In 1940 a similar fire destroyed the re-built hotel and hall. The heat was so intense that the fence around the military reserve caught fire and the building was badly scorched but saved.   

Neglected and Forgotten 

In December 1962 the reserve was transferred to the PMG and later became part of the local Telstra depot.

There are no plaques to indicate the history of this important heritage site that directly connects Lowood with three wars and many famous battles.