Benalla Migrant Camp facts for kids

Map of Migrant Camps in Post-WWII Australia.

Recreated Map of the Benalla Migrant Camp.

The Benalla Migrant Camp was a special place in Australia. It was one of 23 camps set up by the Australian government after World War II. These camps gave temporary homes to people arriving in Australia, especially those who were not from Britain.

The Benalla Camp was built on an old air force base near Benalla in north east Victoria. It opened in 1949. This camp was not huge, usually housing between 200 and 400 people. It stayed open even after other camps closed. By 1967, fewer people needed to stay there, so it closed down. Over 60,000 people lived there during its time. Most came from Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, and Estonia.

Life at Benalla Migrant Camp

P-type huts at Benalla Migrant Camp.

Migrant family outside a Nissen Hut. (Source: Freda Meiers)

At first, the Benalla Migrant Camp was a "holding centre." This meant it offered short-term housing for families. Often, the fathers had to go to work in different places around Australia. If they couldn't find a home near their job, their families would stay at Benalla. This system meant families were sometimes separated, which many people did not like.

The camp also helped mothers who were raising children on their own. It had childcare facilities, which was very unusual for that time. This allowed the women to work.

The homes at the camp were simple huts made of corrugated iron, called 'P-type' huts. They didn't have power points at first. There were shared areas for cooking and washing. The camp also had a kindergarten, a school, a hall, a hospital, shops, and a gym. Later, more huts called Nissen Huts were added to fit more people.

People staying at the camp had medical checks. They also took classes to learn English and about Australian life. Most people were expected to stay for about four to six months. Some stayed longer, especially if they had a two-year work contract with the government. A few people even stayed for up to 15 years. Residents had to pay a small fee to live there.

The camp was busiest in its early years. In 1951, over 1000 people lived there. After 1952, fewer people arrived, and some other camps closed.

In 1953, the camp's role changed. It started taking in whole families, not just dependants. In 1958, its name changed to the Benalla Migrant Accommodation Centre. The facilities improved. It housed families if the main worker had a job in the Benalla area but couldn't find a private home.

Even though the camp could hold 500 people, about 400 usually lived there in the 1950s. Around 200 people moved in and out each year. By the mid-1960s, the numbers dropped. In 1967, only 135 people were left. The government decided it was too expensive to keep open, so the camp closed that year.

The Benalla Experiment

Migrant women were employed at Latoof and Calill. (Source: Freda Meiers)

Migrants were also employed at the Renold Chains factory.

The Benalla Camp had a special role. It welcomed mothers who were raising children on their own. Australia agreed to take in many of these mothers from refugee camps in Europe. This was a kind gesture to help people who had lost so much.

The government knew it might be hard for these mothers to find jobs and homes. From late 1951, many of them came to Benalla. The camp was near two new factories, Latoof and Callil (a clothing factory) and Renold Chains. These factories offered jobs to the women. Some women also worked at the camp as cooks or cleaners. Others worked in local homes.

About one-third of the people at the Benalla Migrant Camp were mothers raising children alone. At first, this idea seemed to work well. The camp improved its facilities and provided good childcare. Women also got English lessons and homemaking classes. The goal was to help them settle into the wider community. Many people moved out of the camp each month, which seemed like a good sign.

However, the jobs didn't pay enough for the women to save money for their own homes. For many, the best way to leave was to get married. Or, they could leave when their oldest child started working and could help set up a home. If these chances didn't happen, they were stuck. Living in temporary housing for a long time was difficult for both mothers and children. By 1956, many people had been at the camp for a long time. Some were even scared to leave the safety of the camp.

When the camp closed in 1967, a social worker helped the remaining residents find new homes. One social worker later said that the "Benalla experiment" was not a full success. She felt it was a "sad and tragic camp" for these mothers. She noted that their spirits were low, and it was hard for them to fit into the community.

Benalla Camp Becomes a Heritage Site

Today, Hut 11 houses the Benalla Migrant Camp Exhibition.

Recreated Migrant Accommodation in Hut 11.

On May 19, 2016, the Benalla Migrant Camp was listed as an important historical site in Victoria. This means it is protected because of its special history.

This listing happened for two main reasons. First, a local resident named Sabine Smyth started an exhibition about the camp. Second, there were plans to develop the airport nearby, which could have damaged the site.

In 2012, Sabine Smyth began collecting stories, photos, and items from the camp. She wanted to create a photo exhibition. This exhibition opened in 2013 in Hut 11, one of the old camp buildings. Later, a volunteer group called Benalla Migrant Camp Inc. was formed. Their goal was to keep collecting history and create a permanent exhibition. The exhibition is still open today, and Sabine continues to gather stories from people who lived there.

Sabine Smyth applied to have the site protected in 2014. It was first rejected but then accepted. An expert also looked at the site for the Benalla Airport Redevelopment Plan. She found it was very important historically.

Most of the original camp buildings are gone today. They were taken down or moved to make way for other developments. But nine of the original huts still remain. Six of these buildings are still in their original spots. These include two toilet blocks and four huts. Two of these huts were school buildings. One was the camp chapel, and another was likely the crèche or kindergarten. Other parts of the old camp, like concrete gate posts and a road, also remain.

In 2015, a petition asked to save the camp's remains. This led to a review by Heritage Victoria. At first, they thought the site might not be important enough. They felt other camps like Bonegilla were more complete.

But in February 2016, a public meeting was held in Benalla. About 100 people attended. Many people shared their reasons why the site was important. Because of this strong community support, Heritage Victoria decided the site was very important. It was added to the state Heritage Register.

The site is important because it is one of the few remaining migrant camps from after World War II. It was also Victoria's longest-lasting holding centre. It played a special role in helping vulnerable groups of migrants settle in Australia. It is also socially important because of its connection to the thousands of people who lived there. It helps us understand their experiences.

One historian, Bruce Pennay, said the Benalla Migrant Camp has a "difficult heritage." This means it reminds us of the challenges migrants faced. It brings up questions about family separation, forced moves, and how well support services worked.

The Benalla Rural City Council owns the site. Plans are being made to manage and protect it. The Benalla Migrant Camp Exhibition in Hut 11 continues to be very popular. Many former residents and their families visit and share their stories.