DURING World War II, seven camps were established in the Tatura area—four for civilians (internees) and three for Prisoners of War (PoWs). What made this area unique in Australia was the close proximity of all seven camps. Tatura was selected due to its access to fresh water from the Waranga Basin, its convenient location near the railway system, the availability of substantial food supplies, and the safety of being more than 160km inland from the coast.
The first enclosures were basic barbed-wire compounds with tents for accommodation, but over time, these were replaced by more permanent army huts. Following the war, under the Australian Displaced Persons Scheme, some 200,000 Europeans were brought to Australia. While Bonegilla near Albury became the main migrant camp, Tatura was notable for being the first Displaced Persons camp in Victoria. Many families resided there while awaiting employment and more permanent housing.
The Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum has played a crucial role in preserving this history. Their extensive collection of artefacts and memorabilia tells the rich story of these camps and the broader Tatura district. Open daily from 1-3pm, the museum showcases donations from former internees, PoWs, their families, and the community.
Visitors can see 54 works of art by Leonhard Adam, sketches by Georg Rosenkranz, hand-crafted wooden items, and clothing made during internment. There are also children’s toys crafted for Christmas and birthdays, metalwork such as a handmade lathe, musical instruments, theatre programmes, puppets, and books and documents created during and after internment.
Beyond the wartime camps, the museum houses detailed collections on local figures, industries, businesses, and the history of irrigation in the Goulburn Valley, offering a comprehensive view of the district’s history. While we can only touch on Tatura’s diverse past within the pages of this magazine, the museum invites you to explore these stories in more depth by visiting their collection in person.
