Historical information
This image shows motorbike despatch riders who were tasked with transporting intercepted Japanese communications from the wartime wireless receiving station established in Chesterville Road, Moorabbin to Queens Road, St Kilda where the Directorate of Naval Communications and the code-breaking unit called FRUMEL (Fleet Radio Unit - Melbourne) were housed. The despatch riders would travel every two hours, all day and night. The wireless receiving station was established in Moorabbin because it was considered an area free of significant electrical interference and was not too far afield from the Melbourne headquarters in Queens Road. Moorabbin was originally established as a rural market gardening community.
Significance
A secret wartime wireless receiving station was established in March 1942 in Chesterville Road, Moorabbin. The station was established on requisitioned market garden properties, and soon housed WRAN (Women's Royal Australian Navy) personnel and up to 35 US Navy servicemen. The Navy personnel intercepted Japanese coded communications and then despatched these by motorbike riders to Queens Road, St Kilda where the Directorate of Naval Communications and the code-breaking unit called FRUMEL (Fleet Radio Unit - Melbourne) were housed. The information intercepted by the wireless receiving station helped shape the Allied response to Japan's advances in the Pacific. Declassified defence records show that this unprepossessing station handled some of World War II's most sensitive secrets, and the despatch riders were a familiar sight in the Moorabbin area, though few were aware of their purpose.
Physical description
Black and white image of three men in uniform sitting astride three motorcycles in front of cars and buildings. The rider on the right is Jack Barker a local resident.
Inscriptions & markings
Handwritten in red ink: A 602 / 90%
Handwritten in blue ink: SW / 950301111
Handwritten in grey pencil: A 34 CHAP 6 / Spy base
Subjects
References
- Cribbin, J., 1995, 'Between the wars 1919 to 1939', Moorabbin: A Pictorial History 1862-1994, pp93-136, pg120
