The Allied Works Council was an organisation set up to oversee and organise military construction works in Australia during World War II.[1]
Established in February 1942,[2] with their first offices in Melbourne, the Allied Works Council was responsible for carrying out any works required by the Allied Forces including providing any equipment, materials or workmen required to carry out these works. By 30 June 1943 they had 4,609 administrative and technical staff and a enrolment in the Civil Constructional Corps of 66,274 and 2,521 in the Civil Alien Corps which was made up primarily of Italian internees.[3][4] In these roles they were considered 'enemy aliens' and 'prisoners of war'.[5][6]
Edward Granville Theodore, a former Premier of Queensland (1919–25) and Federal Treasurer (1929–31) was appointed Director-General of the Council.[7] Following the war, the work of the council evolved into the Ministry for Works.[8][9][10]
References
edit- ^ "Allied Works Council | The Dictionary of Sydney". dictionaryofsydney.org. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ "Full War Powers To Be Used". The News. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 17 February 1942. p. 1. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ "Allied Works Council in Australia during WW2". www.ozatwar.com. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ Allied Works Council (Australia); Australia. Department of the Interior (1943), Report on the activities of the Allied Works Council for the period February 26, 1942 to June 30, 1943, Published by authority of the Minister for the Interior, retrieved 17 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia
- ^ "Civil Aliens Corps under AWC". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 30, 167. Victoria, Australia. 4 May 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Civil Aliens Corps". The West Australian. Vol. 60, no. 18, 006. Western Australia. 25 March 1944. p. 2. Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "A Big Man for a Big Job". The Worker. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 24 February 1942. p. 1. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ "Allied Works Council". Daily Mercury. Vol. 78, no. 254. Queensland, Australia. 24 October 1944. p. 2. Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "PROPOSED MINISTRY OF WORKS". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 24 October 1944. p. 5 (DAILY). Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "FEDERAL CABINET CHANGES". Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser. Vol. 68, no. 10. New South Wales, Australia. 6 February 1945. p. 1. Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.