during world war ii, air raids on australian towns by japan and the fear of an invasion by the japanese led to evacuations from northern australian towns. in march 1942, the students of st augustine's college in cairns were evacuated to the guest house at lake barrine. in late 1942, lieutenant general thomas blamey decided to establish army facilities on the atherton tableland for the recuperation and training of troops returning from the middle east to defend australia against the japanese. with 40,000 troops on the atherton tableland, lake barrine became an important recreational facility and the guest house was used by the 2/1 australian army convalescent depot. after the war ended, the curry family resumed their tourist business at the lake.