Berrima Internment Camp Huts Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Berrima Internment Camp Huts Area |
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German internees playing music at Berrima Internment Camp, around 1916
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| Location | Argyle Street, Berrima, Wingecarribee Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1915–1918 |
| Official name: Berrima Internment Group; Berrima Gaol; German Concentration Camp; Berrima; German Detention Camp; Berrima PoW Camp | |
| Type | state heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 14 January 2011 |
| Reference no. | 1848 |
| Type | Internment Camp |
| Category | Defence |
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The Berrima Internment Camp Huts Area is a special historical site in Berrima, Australia. It was once part of a camp where German people were held during World War I. This area was outside the main Berrima Gaol (prison). It was used from 1915 to 1918. The camp was also known by other names, like the Berrima PoW Camp or the German Detention Camp. This site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2011 because of its important history.
Contents
What is the Berrima Internment Camp?
A Wartime Holding Place
During World War I (1914-1918), many people of German background living in Australia were seen as a threat. This was because Germany was an "enemy" country. So, the Australian government decided to hold these people in special places called internment camps. This was a common practice during wartime.
Berrima Gaol, a prison built in the 1830s, was reopened in 1915 to become one of these internment camps. It was a smaller camp linked to a much larger one in Holsworthy, near Sydney. Other camps were at Trial Bay Gaol and Molonglo.
Who Was Sent to Berrima?
The Berrima camp was mainly for German merchant sailors and ship officers. These were people who worked on trading ships. Some prisoners of war from German colonies or the German Navy were also sent here. Many of these men were high-ranking, like captains and chief engineers.
One famous group of internees came from the German warship SMS Emden. This ship was well-known for sinking Allied merchant ships. The Emden was eventually defeated by the Australian warship HMAS Sydney. Some of the Emden's crew, who were injured, were later held at Berrima.
Life at the Camp
Daily Routines and Freedom
The first group of German internees arrived in Berrima in March 1915. The prison was not very comfortable at first. The internees called it "Ahnenschloss," meaning "Castle of Foreboding." They had very few personal items. They had to prepare and cook their own food.
Life at Berrima Gaol was structured. There was a roll call (check-in) in the morning and again at 5 PM. But during the day, the internees had a lot of freedom. They could move around within a two-mile (about 3.2 km) area around the prison. They were locked up inside the gaol at night.
How the Camp Changed Berrima
Berrima was a quiet town before the camp opened. Its population doubled with the arrival of the internees and their guards. The town became busy again, as the internees bought food and supplies from local shops.
Many internees spoke some English, so they could talk with the local people. Families of the internees even rented houses in the village. Sometimes, the internees helped out in the community. A school was even set up for the children of internees.
The Wingecarribee River: A Place of Fun
The Wingecarribee River was very important to the internees. It offered many chances for fun activities. They could swim, fish, and go boating. The river had deep pools, and two popular spots were called "Grosse See" (Great Lake) and "Lake Titicaca" by the internees.
The internees even changed the river to make it better for their activities. They built a dam from local rocks and clay. This raised the water level, making the river deeper for swimming and boating.
Building Boats and Bridges
Since many internees were experienced sailors, building boats was easy for them. They made simple canoes and also fancy rowing and sailing boats. They even held "Venetian carnivals" and boat races on the river. One famous event was a pretend battle between the SMS Emden and HMAS Sydney on Lake Titicaca. These events often happened on important German holidays.
The internees also built a bridge across the river, which they named Hansa Bridge. It was made from local timber and opened in July 1915. The name "Hansa" referred to a famous German shipping company and an old group of trading cities in Germany.
Huts and "Villages" by the River
To escape the crowded prison cells during the day, many internees built small huts along the riverbanks. At first, these were simple shelters made from tea trees, branches, and leaves. They offered shade and a private space.
As the war went on, the internees realized they would be there for a long time. So, they started building more solid huts and cabins. Some were made from timber slabs or corrugated iron. Others were elaborate, like European summer houses, built from eucalyptus logs. These huts were often grouped together, forming small "villages" with names. One famous cabin was called Alsterburg.
These huts were used as clubhouses too. For example, "Sorgenfrei" (Carefree) was the Swimming Club. "Lloydhalle 2" was a communal hut for younger men.
Gardens and Cultural Life
The internees also started successful vegetable gardens. What began as small plots grew into impressive gardens along the riverbanks. They sold their produce to the camp kitchen and even to the villagers. Some internees even rented local fields to grow larger crops.
The internees also enjoyed cultural activities. They built a stage for plays and musical performances. A bakehouse was built where German-style pies and pastries were made and sold.
The End of the Camp
As the war continued, some local people became less friendly towards the internees. There were even acts of vandalism. To protect the internees and their creations, a wire fence was built around a large area of the riverbank.
World War I officially ended in June 1919. The German internees had to wait months to go home. Before they left, they heard that a German memorial at another camp had been destroyed. In response, the Berrima internees decided to destroy their own work. They sank their boats, dug up their gardens, and burned their huts.
On August 12, 1919, the remaining internees left Berrima. They were taken by train to Sydney and then sailed back to Germany.
What Remains Today?
The Berrima Internment Camp Huts Area covers a large section of bushland and fields along the Wingecarribee River. This is where the internees built their huts, boatsheds, and other structures.
Hut Foundations and Other Traces
Today, you can still find evidence of the huts. There are many stone rubble platforms and retaining walls where the huts once stood. Some are close to the river, others are further back with nice views. For example, the Alsterburg Hut site still has its rubble foundation and steps carved into rock.
You might also find natural rock platforms with signs of where huts were fixed. There's also a possible mooring post on the riverbank near Lake Titicaca, where boats would have been tied up.
Lost Structures and Recovered Items
The Hansa Bridge no longer exists, but its location is known. While the internees destroyed many of their creations, some huts remained for a few years. Some boats were sold to locals. One sunken boat was found in 1978. There might be up to 13 more boats still in the riverbed.
Items in Museums
Many items made by the internees are now kept in local museums. These "moveable heritage" items help us understand their lives. They include:
- A carved box from 1915-1918
- A gaol cell door from the 1840s
- A special banner from 1916
- A dolls house from 1915-1919
- A framed souvenir from the Berrima Guard in 1916
- A German Merchant Officer's service record book
- Serviette rings from 1916
- Carved wooden shields from 1916 and 1917
- A "Dugour Canoe"
- A Concert Zither (a musical instrument) from around 1900
- A collection of old photographs of the internees and their activities
Why is This Place Important?
The Berrima Internment Camp Huts Area is very important for understanding New South Wales' history.
A Unique Historical Site
This site tells the story of German mariners held during World War I. The remains of the huts, recreation areas, and even sunken boats show how these internees lived. It also shows how they tried to keep their culture alive while being held here.
It's a rare example of a recreation area built by internees during WWI. It was also the only camp in NSW specifically for German mariners.
Connection to People and Culture
The site has a strong link to the crew of the famous SMS Emden warship. Seven of its crew members were held here.
It also shows how Australians treated "enemy aliens" during wartime. It highlights how different groups of internees were kept separate based on government rules.
A Place of Beauty and Creativity
The Huts Area shows a unique blend of European design in the Australian bush. The internees created "summer houses" similar to those in Europe, with gardens for vegetables and flowers. Even though the huts are gone, their ruins and foundations create a special landscape along the Wingecarribee River.
Learning from the Past
This site is important for the German community in NSW. It tells a key part of their history in Australia. It's also important for the local Berrima community. Their history is connected to the internees' story.
Archaeologists can learn a lot from this site. By studying the remains, they can find out how the huts were built. They can also learn about the camp's layout, gardens, and the daily lives of the German internees. This helps us understand what it was like to be held in Australia during World War I.
Images for kids
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German internees playing music at Berrima Internment Camp, around 1916
