NUMBER ONE INTERNMENT CAMP

1320 STEWART ROAD DHURRINGILE, GREATER SHEPPARTON CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register

h02048 1 camp 1 dhurringile cafe wellbleeh oct1999

Statement of Significance

• Other Records For This Place
  • Number One Internment Camp - Vic. War Heritage Inventory
• Additional Place Information

  • History

    NUMBER ONE INTERNMENT CAMP - History

    Background

    Germans represented one of the major national groups in the early waves of immigration to Australia. Although numerically fewer than British or Irish settlers, they nevertheless had a substantial impact in forming the Australian society. This, however, did not prevent an anti-German movement during World War I, which resulted in the internment of hundreds of persons of German origin, some of whom were even born in Australia. In the inter-war period in 1918-1939, scepticism towards persons with a non British Isles background was still present.

    During World War II, German nationals were forced to live in camps in Victoria. They were either prisoners of war, captured by the British Army, or enemy aliens, who were civilians possessing the nationality of a state at war with his Majesty.

    Even before World War II began, the handling of ‘enemy aliens’ was discussed in Australia. This was put into action as soon as War was declared and civilians with a German background were the first to be arrested. The number of civilian internees increased during the war. Additionally, Australia agreed to take on civilians who had been interned by British authorities as well as a great number of Italian and German prisoners of war who had been captured by the Allied Forces. These added to a total of approximately 26,000 prisoners of war plus 7,000 civilians from overseas and 7,000 local residents held in Australian camps during World War II.

    Establishment of Internment Camps in Victoria

    As early as November 1939, basic plans had been drawn up of the layout of future internment and prisoner of war camps. Army engineers were responsible for the design of the internment camps. They used standard plans for housing soldiers. The camps were basically designed to last a few years only.

    The camps had various shapes (e.g. Camp 1 rectangular in shape and camp 3 and 4, square in shape) and various numbers of compounds (Camp 1: two compounds, Camp 2, 3, 4 and 13: four compounds). Generally, each compound contained an appropriate number of sleeping huts, mess halls, kitchens, laundry rooms, latrines, ablution blocks and large recreation huts. The Australian policy was to segregate nationalities and groups of internees where possible; Japanese for example were never mixed with ‘Europeans’.

    In most camps, accommodation was first provided in tents until suitable huts could be built. In time, more permanent camps were established, with rows of army huts replacing the tents. Sleeping huts were usually 5-6m x 20m (16-18’ x 60’), constructed of galvanised iron. They had to serve 16-20 persons. In addition, large recreation huts, kitchen and mess huts, and ablution blocks were provided. Internally, the sleeping huts varied in layout. For example, in the case of family camps, sleeping quarters were partitioned off with masonite to accommodate family groups. POW camps and internment camps for single males had barrack-style accommodation. Guards and other support staff were garrisoned outside the compounds.

    Camp No 1

    The first camp to be built particularly for the purpose of internment was Camp 1. It was established in 1940 for the purpose of internment on land owned by John B. Noonan. The camp was established for males, the A Compound contained overseas Germans and Italians and the B Compound local Germans and Italians. The camp also included 14 acres of garden.

    Camp 1 was to become the Chief Army Administration Camp. The camp eventually housed the hospital and dental headquarters for all camps of the Tatura group.

    The first internees to come to the camp were 63 Germans who walked to the camp on 25 January 1940 from Dhurringile, which had served as internment accommodation first.

    The internees were housed in army huts. At the beginning, there were 14 huts, with 16 men to each hut, in Camp 1 Compound A. Later 8 further huts were erected and 2 bath-tubs put in for 250 men. The huts were unlined. One room was converted into an orderly room and canteen, another into temporary camp hospital also mess halls, open shower rooms, open wash house and latrine. Later the conditions improved. By 1943, the latrines and ablutions connected to a sewerage plant and sanitation provided. Other camps used pan systems in latrines.

    Compounds A and B were separated by barbed wire. Compound B was established in the eastern side when 640 local German internees were brought to Camp 1 from every part of Australia.

    According to Barbara Winter, Camp 1 was unofficially called the "Nazi Camp" and authorities who were convinced of the "dangerousness" of an internee sent them to Tatura. Persecution of anti-Nazi internees was brought to the attention of the official visitors as early as December 1940 but it was not considered expedient to segregate a ‘small number of Jews from the main body of Nazi’. Later, anti-Nazi internees were shifted to other camps.

    When Italy joined Germany in the war against Britain in June 1940, 22 Australian Italian internees were also brought to Camp 1.

    The Camp Commandant was in charge of the overall operation of the camp with delegated duties to army personnel. The guards at Camp 1 were generally returned World War I servicemen who had re-enlisted. The internee compounds were democratically run. Internees were responsible for their compound and managed their own administration. Compound Leaders communicated problems and requests to the army administrators with an implied understanding on both sides that ‘very effective cooperation’ offered the ‘best chance of obtaining consideration for any … suggestions on behalf of the internees ‘.[The compound administration furthermore included Secretariat, Arrangements Service, Orderlies, Post, Gardens, Hygiene, Canteen, Finance and Selling, Kitchen, Messes, Welfare, Hospital, Sport, Culture, Music, Library, Workshops, Exhibition, Cinema and School Halls.

    Camp 1 housed a hospital (also called Waranga camp hospital) which became the main hospital for all other camps in the area. The Waranga camp hospital dealt with all cases needing nursing attention from the entire Tatura group, as well as surgical and other serious cases from camp 13. Infectious cases were sent to Mooroopna or Bendigo base hospital. Adjoining the hospital compound, which was outside of the compounds A and B, and separated by a single fence, was a compound erected for isolating Tuberculosis cases. The compound contained 4 open air sleeping huts, a mess and a recreation room and a building containing laundry, showers, ablution facilities etc.

    The Cafe Wellblech was described by W.H. Bossence as the last symbol of one of the strangest episodes in the camp’s history. Originally it had been an army hut, used for storage. The Germans obtained permission to convert it to a cafe, built a four feet high stonework promenade around the front entrance. They opened it early in 1942. Large tubs containing foliage and plants were placed on the promenade and tables and chairs. On summer nights an area was reserved for the orchestra. Waiters, smartly dressed, served black coffee and German cakes. Inside, the panelled walls of the cafe bore scenes of the Rhine valley and Berlin. Behind the counter shelves were heavily stocked with preserved foods and delicacies. In front of the counter were tables and chairs to accommodate some 30 diners.

    About 1944 the Australian authorities sounded the alarm for the camp’s first escape. Other escapes followed. The Welblech Cafe was not suggested to be the headquarters for the escape society, but there was evidence to indicate it was a clearing-house for illegally gained currency notes. The chief function of the escape society was to accumulate currency notes for careful distribution to genuine potential escapees. The Welblech Cafe was raided twice, but only at the second raid a member of the search party pulled a large almost loose nail partly from the flooring. The search party saw a small, square foot section apparently of solid concrete bordering the open fire-place slowly swing downwards, as though on a hinge. In the six-inch deep cavity revealed were a number of small compartments, empty. On further examination it was revealed that this small cellar, below floor level was completely enclosed by the chimneys foundation.

    The internees were occupied with various tasks, including gardening, providing services such as cleaning clothes and washing, with firewood cutting and gathering, road making at the camp, drainage work or general maintenance at the camp. The internees were paid for their work, the standard pay rate being 3 d per hour, with a maximum of 15/- per week.

    Probably one of the main problems in the camp was boredom. To distract the internees, 2 tennis courts, a skittle alley, a small pavilion with a flat roof for sunbaking and 2 hobby workshops were eventually built. Leisure activities at the camp included exhibitions, library, regular picture shows and sporting festival. The German internees at camp 1 even published a little pro-Nazi fortnightly newspaper called Brennessel (stinging nettle), begun in 1941.

    The camp was wound up after World War II. In August 1946 there were orders issued to concentrate all internees held at Camp 1 into one compound and transfer the Officers to another Camp. The final closure seems to have occurred between 1946 and 1947. By May 1947, the garrison at No. 1 camp was reduced to two men. At the end of the year twelve of the huts were sold to district returned soldiers. Other huts were purchased by firms and businesses or were acquired by the Forestry Commission.

    Notes on other camps: [43]

    Camp 1 was the first to be established with the first internees arriving in January 1940. It was situated in the Goulburn Valley at Dhurringile (Victoria)

    Camp 2 was situated about 2 km north of camp 1, also at Dhurringile (Victoria).

    Camp 3 was established nearer Rushworth (Victoria).

    Camp 4 was 1 km from Camp 3 also close to Rushworth (Victoria).

    Camp 5 was situated over 160 km away from Tatura at Whorouly, officially known as Myrtleford Camp in North Eastern Victoria.

    Camps 7 and 8 were established at Hay in the Riverina (Southern New South Wales). Before that, the Army Camp at Liverpool and the showgrounds at Orange, Long Bay and Darlinghurst Prisons were used to hold internal and overseas internees.

    Camps 9 and 10 were situated at Loveday in South Australia (the military camp at Kerwick was used first).

    Camp 11 was established at Harvey (Western Australia). Freemantle Goal and Rottnest Island were used as well.

    Camp 12 was at Cowra (New South Wales).

    Camp 13 was established close to Murchison (Victoria).

    Camp 14 was at Loveday (South Australia).

    Camp 15 was at Yanco (New South Wales).

    Camp 16 was at Marrinup (Western Australia).

    Camp 17 was at Gaythorne (Queensland).

    Camp 18 was at Brighton (Tasmania).

    Assessment Against Criteria

    NUMBER ONE INTERNMENT CAMP - Assessment Against Criteria

    Criterion

    Assessment against criteria

    Criterion A. The historical importance, association with or relationship to Victoria's history of the place or object.

    The camp is significant for its association with the Australian internment policy during World War II. The camp was part of a wider network of internment camps, which included camps in Victoria (eg. camp 2 at Dhurringile, camp 3 and 4 at Rushworth) as well as in other Australian states (eg. Hay in New South Wales). The overall number of internment and prisoner of war camps constructed in Australia during World War II indicates the political and cultural ties with Britain, as additional camps would have had to be built to cater for the number of internees Australia agreed to accept from Great Britain.

    Criterion B. The importance of a place or object in documenting rarity or uniqueness.

    Camp 1 stands out because of its unique layout and design.

    Camp 1 is significant as the first camp of a network of internment camps in the Goulburn Valley particularly designed to house internees. Camp 1 accommodated the first Melbourne German internees who were taken away from their homes at the beginning of World War I. They were held at Dhurringile mansion first and as soon as Camp 1 was ready for housing, brought to the site. Camp 1 differs in its layout from internment camps built later in Victoria in its layout (only two compounds, shape of outlines and sewerage system. Later camps had no sewerage systems.

    Criterion C. The place or object's potential to educate, illustrate or provide further scientific investigation in relation to Victoria's cultural heritage.

    The place could yield unique archaeological information for an important period of Australia's twentieth century development. Camp 1 has the potential to be used as an extension of the Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum in Tatura. Movable objects from internment camps are displayed in the museum and tours of Camp 1 can be arranged as a continuation of this history in the district.

    Criterion D. The importance of a place or object in exhibiting the principal characteristics or the representative nature of a place or object as part of a class or type of places or objects.

    Camp 1 was part of a wider network of camps clustered in the Goulburn Valley.

    Camp 1 is significant for its capacity to demonstrate to all Victorians the physical environment faced by the hundreds of internees who were held in various internment camps in Australia during World War II. They were thought to be a potential security risk to Australia because of the country of their birth or their affiliations.

    The remnant structures illustrate the organisational arrangements of World War II internment and provide an understanding of the conditions under which the internees were accommodated.

    Criterion G. The importance of the place or object in demonstrating social or cultural associations.

    Former internees of Camp 1 or their relatives have an ongoing connection with the site which represents this historic period in their lives and their skills in coping with it. Former German and Italian Internees have returned to camp 1 to 'revisit' a period of their live which had a profound effect on them.

    Permit Exemptions

    NUMBER ONE INTERNMENT CAMP - Permit Exemptions

    General Exemptions:

    General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

    Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

    Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

    Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

    Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

    Specific Exemptions:

    Regular Site Maintenance

    The following site maintenance works are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995,

    a) Regular site maintenance provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits;

    b) the maintenance of an item to retain its conditions or operation without the removal of or damage to the existing fabric or the introduction of new materials;

    c) cleaning including the removal of surface deposits, organic growths, or graffiti by the use of low pressure water and natural detergents and mild brushing and scrubbing;

    d) repairs, conservation and maintenance to plaques, memorials, roads and paths, fences and gates and drainage and irrigation.

    e) The replacement of existing services such as cabling, plumbing, wiring and fire services that uses existing routes, conduits or voids, and does not involve damage to or the removal of significant fabric.

    Note: Surface patina which has developed on the fabric may be an important part of the item’s significance and if so needs to be preserved during maintenance and cleaning.

    Note: Any new materials used for repair must not exacerbate the decay of existing fabric due to chemical incompatibility, obscure existing fabric or limit access to existing fabric for future maintenance. Repair must maximise protection and retention of fabric and include the conservation of existing details or elements.

    Fire Suppression Duties

    The following fire suppression duties are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995,

    a) Fire suppression and fire fighting duties provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits;

    b) Fire suppression activities such as fuel reduction burns, and fire control line construction, provided all significant historical and archaeological features are appropriately recognised and protected;

    Note: Fire management authorities should be aware of the location, extent and significance of historical and archaeological places when developing fire suppression and fire fighting strategies. The importance of places listed in the Heritage Register must be considered when strategies for fire suppression and management are being developed.

    Weed and Vermin Control

    The following weed and vermin control activities are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995,

    a) Weed and vermin control activities provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits;

    Note: Particular care must be taken with weed and vermin control works where such activities may have a detrimental affect on the significant fabric of a place. Such works may include the removal of ivy, moss or lichen from an historic structure or feature, or the removal of burrows from a site that has archaeological values.

    Landscape Maintenance

    The following landscape maintenance works are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995,

    a) Landscape maintenance works provided the activities do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits;

    b) Watering, mowing, top-dressing and fertilising necessary for the continued health of plants, without damage or major alterations to layout, contours, plant species or other significant landscape features;

    c) Management of trees in accordance with Australian Standard; Pruning of amenity trees AS 4373

    d) Tree surgery by a qualified horticulturalist or tree surgeon necessary for the health of those plants.

    Public Safety and Security

    The following public safety and security activities are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995,

    a) Public safety and security activities provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground structures or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits;

    b) The erection of temporary security fencing, scaffolding, hoardings or surveillance systems to prevent unauthorised access or secure public safety which will not adversely affect significant fabric of the place including archaeological features;

    c) Development including emergency stabilisation necessary to secure safety where a site feature has been irreparably damaged or destabilised and represents a safety risk to its users or the public.

    Note: Urgent or emergency site works are to be undertaken by an appropriately qualified specialist such as a structural engineer, or other heritage professional.

    Signage and Site Interpretation

    The following Signage and Site Interpretation activities are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995,

    a) Signage and site interpretation activities provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground structures or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits;

    b) The erection of non-illuminated signage for the purpose of ensuring public safety or to assist in the interpretation of the heritage significance of the place or object and which will not adversely affect significant fabric including landscape or archaeological features of the place or obstruct significant views of and from heritage values or items;

    c) Signage and site interpretation products must be located and be of a suitable size so as not to obscure or damage significant fabric of the place;

    d) Signage and site interpretation products must be able to be later removed without causing damage to the significant fabric of the place;

    Note: The development of signage and site interpretation products must be consistent in the use of format, text, logos, themes and other display materials.

    Note: Where possible, the signage and interpretation material should be consistent with other schemes developed on similar or associated sites. It may be necessary to consult with land managers and other stakeholders concerning existing schemes and strategies for signage and site interpretation.

    Mineral Exploration

    The following Mineral Exploration activities are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995,

    a) Mineral Exploration activities provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits;

    b) Preliminary non-intrusive exploration, including geological mapping, geophysical surveys, and geochemical sampling and access to shafts and adits;

    c) Advanced forms of exploration (drilling), including the location of drill pads and access tracks where this has been the subject of on-site negotiation and agreement with representatives of Heritage Victoria, DSE and Parks Victoria, and where all significant historic site features have been identified and protected as part of an approved work plan.

    Minor Works

    Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works may submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may not be required to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.

    Grazing : There is no need to apply for a heritage permit to authorise light grazing and general pastoral activities that do no involve significant disturbance of the ground level.

    Permit Exemption Policy

    NUMBER ONE INTERNMENT CAMP - Permit Exemption Policy

    PERMIT EXEMPTIONS & THE HERITAGE ACT 1995

    Exemptions from permits under the Heritage Act 1995 are outlined in Section 66 (part 4).

    STANDARD EXEMPTION CONDITIONS

    All Exemptions for places or objects on the Victorian Heritage Register should be prefaced with the following:

    General Conditions: 1. All exempted works are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object.

    General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such alterations shall cease and the Executive Director shall be notified.

    Note: All heritage places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component.

    General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it.

    Note: The existence of a Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan approved by the Executive Director provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan.

    General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.

    General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to obtain relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable.

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