No. 208 Radar Station RAAF

The former Radar Station 208 site has a north and south arrangement with principal structures replicated in each sector. There are two arrangements of four concrete footings that originally supported 44 metre timber aerial towers. The footings are arranged in a square pattern with remnant steel supports protruding from each block. Two concrete above ground igloo shaped bunkers remain, each with a square turret on the seaward side. The footings and bunkers are symmetrically placed across an east–west axis. The bunkers have remnants of electrical fittings and recessed areas on the internal walls and concrete slab floors and an egress on the eastern walls. The southern area has a remnant rectangular shaped concrete support for the tower ladder rising several centimetres above the ground surface. The northern area has a remnant concrete stair structure of approximately half a metre high with three steps and the outer rim concrete remains of a depressed circular structure.^[1]

A two-metre safety fence, erected in the 1990s, is located on the northern and eastern boundary and isolates the footings and other above surface remains in the northern section. The eastern side of the northern bunker is one and a half metres from the cliff edge.^[1]

The southern sector arrangement of footings was reported to be well preserved and obscured by dense regrowth vegetation as at 7 February 2006. The northern sector footings were reported to show a greater level of deterioration with exposure to coastal conditions.^[1]

The concrete bunkers have been subject to graffiti and fire but remain in good condition. There is some evidence of concrete cancer to the buildings in the form of exposed reinforcing where minor concrete spalling has occurred.^[1]

The former RAAF Radar Station 208 at Catherine Hill Bay, comprising remains of the RAAF radar installation is significant as a rare example of NSW's participation in the WWII network of air warning radar, established in strategic locations along Australia's coast during World War II. It is one of nine ACO radar stations established on mainland Australia using British imported ACO radar and the only remaining site of the two established in NSW.^[1]

Its location and siting on an elevated coastal area amongst dense bushland demonstrates Australia's response to the threat of invasion and the importance placed on protecting the industrial centres along NSW coastline during WWII.^[1]

The site has potential to yield further information about Australian coastal defence efforts during WWII and the use and development of radar technology.^[1]

It has historical associations with the introduction, use and development of radar technology in Australia which is regarded as one of the greatest contributions of Australian science to the war effort. The wartime development of radar in Australia became a key element in the shift towards government sponsored applied scientific research^[3] and the gradual independence of Australian science. After the war, radar became a celebrated achievement of science in Australia.^[3][1]

WWII RAAF Radar Station 208 was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 July 2008 having satisfied the following criteria.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.

The remains of the former Radar Station 208 illustrates Australia's response to the imminent threat of invasion during WWII and the role of NSW in the defence of Australia. Its setting demonstrates the importance of NSW's industrial region and military efforts for its protection during the war.^[1]

It represents a distinct stage of the introduction of radar technology that led to innovative adaptation and advancement of radar technology by Australian scientists and engineers in NSW during WWII.^[1]

The place has a strong or special association with a person, or group of persons, of importance of cultural or natural history of New South Wales's history.

The former Radar Station 208 is of State significance for its association with the RAAF which were given responsibility for the nation's air warning defence operations during WWII and exservice RAAF and WAAAF personnel that served during WWII. It has strong associations with the role of women WAAAF who served as radar operators during WWII.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

The technical integrity and aesthetic characteristics have been lost with the removal of associated electrical and timber fabric of the aerial towers. The siting of the above ground bunkers demonstrate an Australian adaptation.^[1]

The place has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

The former Radar Station 208 is of State significance for its association with veteran groups and RAAF and WAAAF personnel that served during WWII.^[1]

The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

It has potential to yield further information about NSW during WWII and its role in the network of the nation's air warning defence during this period. It is a reminder of NSW's role in the introduction and development of radar technology during the war.^[1]

The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

The former Radar Station 208 is the only intact example of a WWII ACO radar station in NSW. It was one of nine installations established in Australia during the war, and the only one remaining of the two located in NSW. The use and development of radar is an uncommon aspect of NSW's WWII history.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales.

The former Radar Station 208 retains fabric of the original layout that demonstrates the characteristics of a WWII RAAF radar installation.^[1]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 208 Radar Station RAAF.

• Bale, J (1995). Looking back to the beginning of RAAF Radar in Australia.
• Hammer, Charles (2003). (Oral history collected by Eric Manning).
• Thompson, Courtney (2004). (Oral history collected by Eric Manning).
• Simmonds, Ed (2004). (Oral History collected by Eric Manning).
• Environmental Resources Management Australia (2005). Heritage Review of the WWII Radar Station located at Catherine Hill Bay.
• Manning, Eric (2004). Nomination submission.
• Graham Brooks & Associates (2005). Amendment to proposed SHR Listing Curtilage - RAAF Radar Station 208, CHB.
• Minnett, H., Alexander, B., Cooper, B. & Porter H (1999). 'Radar and the bombing of Darwin' (in Mcleod 1999).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Newcastle Herald (1987). Coal at Catherine Hill Bay since 1870s.
• Coggins, Rober (2004). (Oral history collected by Eric Manning).
• Thomson, J A (1991). The WAAAF in Wartime Australia.

This Wikipedia article contains material from WWII RAAF Radar Station 208 (former), entry number 01752 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.