Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre facts for kids
The Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre was a special place in Australia. It was a camp set up to welcome and help new people arriving in Australia after World War II. Many people came to Australia during this time, looking for a new home.
The camp was located on a large piece of land near Wodonga in north-east Victoria. Before it became a migrant camp, it was an army base during the war. Bonegilla opened in 1947 and stayed open until 1971. During these years, over 300,000 migrants passed through its gates. It's thought that more than 1.5 million Australians today are related to someone who stayed at Bonegilla. Some famous people who lived there include Eric Bana's parents, Karl Kruszelnicki, and Les Murray.
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Bonegilla: A New Home for Migrants
Why People Came to Australia
After World War II ended in 1945, the Australian Government wanted more people to live in Australia. They encouraged people from other countries to come and build a new life. Bonegilla was the biggest and longest-running centre for new arrivals after the war.
At first, Australia hoped many people from Britain would come. This was part of the Assisted Passage Scheme. But not many British people came. So, the government looked to Europe. There were many people in Europe who had lost their homes because of the war. These people were called "displaced persons" or war refugees. Australia offered them a chance to come. They agreed to work in Australia for two years. They would stay at places like Bonegilla to learn about the "Australian way of life."
Life at the Camp
Bonegilla had very basic facilities. It was quite separate from the nearby towns of Albury and Wodonga. Most people who came to Bonegilla were from countries where English was not spoken.
The camp was divided into 24 sections, called "blocks." Each block had its own kitchen, dining hall, and bathrooms. In total, there were over 800 buildings. The rooms where people slept were simple. They were made of timber frames with corrugated iron walls. Each room was designed for about 20 people and had no walls inside. This meant there wasn't much privacy at first.
When migrants first arrived in 1947, the camp wasn't fully ready. But over time, things improved. By 1950, Bonegilla could house 7,700 people. From 1951, inner walls were added to rooms, creating small cubicles for more privacy. These improvements happened faster when people from countries like the Netherlands and Britain started arriving.
Daily Routines and Activities
New arrivals usually arrived by ship at Port Melbourne. Then, they took a train to the Bonegilla railway station. Officials would meet them with food and a place to stay.
Migrants were often separated into blocks based on their home country. Even married couples were sometimes separated, with men and women staying in different areas. People used their luggage or blankets to create small private spaces.
For fun, there were dance classes, a library, and swimming at Lake Hume. A hall called Tudor Hall was used for dancing. There was also a cinema that showed movies twice a week.
Officers at the camp helped migrants find jobs across Australia. While people could say what kind of work they preferred, refusing too many job offers could mean losing government support. Many men were given jobs as "labourers" (people who do physical work), and women as "domestics" (people who work in homes). Many migrants were frustrated because their skills and qualifications from their home countries were not always recognised. They often had to start with simple jobs, even if they had been professionals or skilled workers before.
Who Came to Bonegilla?
Most of the migrants at Bonegilla came from Europe. This was because many British migrants went to other cities. From 1947 to 1951, most people were from Eastern and Southern Europe. Later, in 1951, new agreements were made with countries like the Netherlands and Italy. This meant more people from these countries also came to Bonegilla.
Bonegilla's Lasting Story
Today, only Block 19 of the camp remains. It has been turned into a museum and a place to learn about the past. It's called the Bonegilla Migrant Experience Heritage Park.
In 2001, the Albury Regional Museum created a special exhibition called "From the Steps of Bonegilla." It was very popular! Because of its success, other exhibitions were held in Canberra and Melbourne.
In 2010, the Bonegilla Migrant Experience Heritage Park officially reopened to the public. It is now recognised as a National Heritage Place. Visitors can take guided tours of the remaining buildings and learn about the camp's history. You can also look up family records if your relatives stayed there. The park also offers educational tours for school groups. Many groups helped make the park a reality, including the City of Wodonga and various community groups, especially the Greek community of former Bonegilla residents.
