 General Douglas MacArthur arrived in Australia in March 1942 to become Supreme Commander South West Pacific Area ( SWPA ) . In addition to his duties as Commander in Chief , Blamey became Commander of Allied Land Forces , South West Pacific Area . In the reorganisation that followed his return to Australia on 23 March , Blamey appointed Lavarack to command the First Army , Mackay to command the Second Army , and Bennett to command the III Corps in Western Australia . Vasey became Deputy Chief of the General Staff ( DCGS ) , while Herring took over Northern Territory Force , and Robertson became commander of the 1st Armoured Division . Blamey 's Allied Land Forces Headquarters ( LHQ ) was established in Melbourne , but after MacArthur 's General Headquarters ( GHQ ) moved to Brisbane in July 1942 , Blamey established an Advanced LHQ in nearby St Lucia , Queensland . 
