DOCTOR CARVER SERVICE CLUB
100 GREY STREET, SOUTH BRISBANE
BRISBANE, QLD, DURING WW2

visits since 5 October 2003

Negro, Negroes

The Doctor Carver Service Club was a U.S. Army Canteen that was opened on 5 May 1943 for African-American soldiers in Brisbane during WW2. The Club had a pool room, cafeteria, bar, barber shop and of course a 'swinging' dance floor. It was located at 100 Grey Street, in South Brisbane on the south side of the Brisbane River which was one of the areas reserved for African-American soldiers. The Dr. Carver Club was apparently located opposite the South Brisbane Railway Station.

The American Red Cross had taken over Laidlaw's building as 100 Grey Street, South Brisbane to establish the Dr. Carver Club. Robert Galland told me that the building had also been Delanies Hotel (or Delaneys Hotel) which later became The Manhattan Hotel. Robert said that next to the Hotel heading towards Melbourne Street was Warhings Chinese Shop. Can anyone confirm?

Australian Harry Hawkins was Director of the Club. He was ordained in St. Louis, Missouri and was a former welfare officer for the YMCA and the ACF in the Middle East. George Newton, a graduate of San Francisco State University and Al Hoosman, of Waterloo, Iowa, a Golden Gloves boxing champion in 1939 head the staff at the Doctor Carver Club in Brisbane. Al Hoosman, won at least 10 boxing matches while he was in Australia during WW2. He had initially been based in Mount Isa.

The club was named after the distinguished scientist George Washington Carver. Activities at the club included two dances and two movie nights each week. Sylvester Reeder, formerly of Washington, DC later took over the club. 

Social workers Geraldine Randall, a classical pianist, and Rosa Maria Spears assisted with the recruitment of local volunteers to sew and mend clothes for the soldiers and to keep them company while they visited the club. Many of these volunteers were schoolteachers, social workers and women from the YWCA. Twenty local women including 6 aboriginal women joined the staff of the Doctor Carver Club. Aboriginal girls were encouraged to volunteer to be dance partners for the soldiers. Once accepted they were issued with Permits by the American Red Cross. Many of the 200 volunteers who worked at the club were whites, who got to know and trust the soldiers by living in the vicinity of their camp at Redbank outside Brisbane.

The US Fifth Air Corps Orchestra playing at the Doctor Carver Service Club at South Brisbane on 19 August 1943. Galvin Johnson, Missouri is holding the microphone. Miss Lila Draper is dancing with Private Bob Walker, New York City.

Associated Press reported the following on the Dr. Carver Club:-

"Newest and swankiest of three service clubs for American Negro troops has been opened. From the deep-cushioned leather chairs of its attractive lounge to the streamlined polished metal of its modem kitchen, the Dr. Carver Club is exclusive, 'out of bounds' to all white troops save those fortunate enough to receive special invitations. As one Army officer put it, 'those boys have been doing their country a great service. The clubs are just a token of our appreciation.'"

Eleanor Roosevelt visited the Doctor Carver Club on 13 September 1943 for about 20 minutes.

Itinerary for Eleanor Roosevelt on 13 September 1943

At one stage, the club invited Australian soldiers to visit that "other American Red Cross Club" to enjoy the best steak and eggs in town. Some French sailors had even taken up the invitation. The American Commander of Base Section Three heard about these "goings on" and called Jack Bond from the American Red Cross to his office and read him the "riot act". Jack informed the Colonel that he did not want to be part of a club in Australia that discriminated against Australians!!

The Doctor Carver Club moved to the Philippines in January 1945.

Does anyone have an photographs of this club?

Did you spend any time at this club during WW2?

REFERENCE BOOKS

"Black Roots White Flowers: A History of Jazz in Australia" by Andrew Bisset (1979) Golden Press, NSW

"Yanks Down Under 1941-45, The American Impact on Australia"
by E. Daniel Potts & Annette Potts

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Veronica Fury for her assistance with this home page.

Heaps of WW2 books available at Amazon.com

"Australia @ War"

This page first produced 5 October 2003

This page last updated 15 October 2007