Community Wellness Hub 20th August 2026
Our special Guest Speaker Elizabeth Olsson returning to the Hub for the third time. Her Topic was the bombing of Darwin on the 19th of February 1942.
On this day 188 Japanese aircraft in two separate raids bombed Darwin, ships in the harbour and the town’s two airfields. This was an attempt to prevent the Allies from using them as bases to contest the invasion of Timor and Java. This was the largest single attack on Australian soil by a foreign Power.
Darwin was unprepared for such an attack and the Japanese inflicted heavy losses upon Allied forces with almost no real damage to themselves. Darwin residents were quick to flee the area before and after the attack.
There were also more attacks in other areas near Darwin in the months to follow. Broome in Western Australia was attacked on 3rd March 1942. Other places in Western Australia were Wyndham, Derby, Port Hedland and Exmouth Gulf.
Elizabeth’s presentation was a reminder on how little the general population knew about the attacks at the time. Her photos of the event were very confronting and the damage to Darwin was substantial.
Thank you to Elizabeth for her insights and graphic descriptions of this horrific event. We look forward to Elizabeth returning in 2027 for more insights into her knowledge of Military history.
