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# Castle Hill WWII relics loop - Trip Report
- URL: https://townsvillebushwalkingclub.com/castle-hill-ww2-2025/
- Published: 2025-10-02T02:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-12T05:50:57.000Z
- Description: Explore Castle Hill’s hidden WWII relics & bunkers on this 8 km loop in Townsville. From ammo bunkers and searchlight sites to quarry ruins and stone fortifications, this moderate hike combines history, off-track adventure, and sweeping views—perfect for fit walkers seeking heritage and exploration.
- Author: Townsville Bushwalking Club
- Tags: Townsville

**Date:** 01/10/2025  
**Leader:** Luen Warneke  
**Party:** 4 walkers  
**Grade:** Moderate (off-track sections, rock slabs, prickly scrub)  
**Distance/duration:** \~5 km, 1 hour 50 minutes  
**Ascent:** \~360 m  
**Start/finish:** Lower Cutheringa Track car park, North Ward

Four of us set off at 4:30 p.m. from the Cudtheringa Track trailhead to explore Castle Hill's network of World War II relics. The weather was warm but clear, with a pleasant breeze on the ridges. Carrying head torches, we planned a loop linking bunkers, quarry sites, and historic terraces before finishing by dusk.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/ba/7dbaebaf-194e-4ef9-a4d9-2c073a689e9c/content/images/2025/10/PXL_20251001_064226858.MP.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/ba/7dbaebaf-194e-4ef9-a4d9-2c073a689e9c/content/images/2025/10/557691255_10163116428835862_2704821330461610065_n.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/ba/7dbaebaf-194e-4ef9-a4d9-2c073a689e9c/content/images/2025/10/557542297_10163116428965862_8310971389961098370_n.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/ba/7dbaebaf-194e-4ef9-a4d9-2c073a689e9c/content/images/2025/10/557184807_10163116429150862_6862073451746923558_n.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/ba/7dbaebaf-194e-4ef9-a4d9-2c073a689e9c/content/images/2025/10/PXL_20251001_072759959.MP.jpg)

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### Route & highlights

- **Ammo Bunker & Erythrina Track bend:** From the lower car park, we visited the old ammunition bunker, then climbed Castle Hill Rd to join Erythrina Track.
- **Searchlight tower site:** Short side trip to the concrete pads of the searchlight emplacement, recently exposed by a controlled burn. We spotted several old camp terraces nearby. Stories of AWAS polishing the searchlight mirror to sweep across Cleveland Bay.
- **Ladies Track to stair down to the Castle Hill Road:** Regained the main track and took Ladies Track to the upper precinct. Crossed road straight onto Ironbark Track.
- **Ironbark descent to Triandra & quarry:** Descended steep Ironbark, then went off-track down a scrubby ridge (recently burnt in a controlled burn) to Triandra and the quarry benches. The quarry features still spark “tunnel” stories.
- **West End stone fortifications:** Explored stone walls and terraces near Francis/Sidney Streets. More homestead relics than military, but still fascinating. The “gun-port” stone walls actually belong to a pre-war residence
- **Green Street / Project 81 bunker & COIC site:** Viewed the big bunker behind SES and the berm above the long-sealed Combined Operational Intelligence Centre site. Project 81 bunker camouflaged post-war with a fake house and washing line on top.
- **Traverse to West Ridge Track:** A scrubby off-track leg with spear grass and lantana, then up West Ridge to Castle Hill Rd.
- **Road descent:** We returned down the bitumen to the Cudtheringa car park, headtorches ready but arriving before full dark.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/ba/7dbaebaf-194e-4ef9-a4d9-2c073a689e9c/content/images/2025/10/556904150_10163116429395862_8424262775860878955_n.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/ba/7dbaebaf-194e-4ef9-a4d9-2c073a689e9c/content/images/2025/10/558850686_10163116429725862_8424293269651444401_n.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/ba/7dbaebaf-194e-4ef9-a4d9-2c073a689e9c/content/images/2025/10/PXL_20251001_074100135.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/ba/7dbaebaf-194e-4ef9-a4d9-2c073a689e9c/content/images/2025/10/PXL_20251001_074223710.MP.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/ba/7dbaebaf-194e-4ef9-a4d9-2c073a689e9c/content/images/2025/10/557018054_10163116430170862_7795114244077976136_n.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/ba/7dbaebaf-194e-4ef9-a4d9-2c073a689e9c/content/images/2025/10/PXL_20251001_074935253.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/ba/7dbaebaf-194e-4ef9-a4d9-2c073a689e9c/content/images/2025/10/PXL_20251001_082135901.MP.jpg)

A well-paced evening outing linking many of Castle Hill's lesser-known wartime relics with modern walking tracks. A good balance of exercise, history, and exploration, with plenty of stories to connect the sites.

*\- Luen*

*Photo credit: Luen Warneke and Wendy Richardson*