History: A series of interpretive signs have been installed at the former Benalla Migrant Camp site, allowing visitors to take a tour and learn about the lives of those who lived there.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
The Benalla Migrant Camp now features a series of interpretive signs telling the history of the heritage-listed site — one of only 12 in Benalla.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
After initially pitching the idea to Benalla Rural City Council in August 2020, Benalla Migrant Camp Inc chair Sabine Smyth said she was delighted the signs are finally installed.
Town within a town: The new signs tell the story of all the different elements that made the site home to the more than 60,000 people who lived there.
“We are very pleased this project has now concluded successfully with the installation of these beautiful signs,” Ms Smyth said.
“Visitors to Benalla will be able to imagine what the original lay-out of the camp, and specific buildings, were.
Community project: The new interpretive signs being installed on the site of Benalla’s former Migrant Camp.
Photo by
Contributed
“People come to sites like this to feel the past, and the signs help create an impression, with photos and descriptions of what there once was.
“The Department of Immigration estimates that Benalla Migrant Camp was home to approximately 60,000 European migrants (between 1949 and 1967).
“And descendants continue to return to the site to get a sense of their family’s past.
“The Benalla Visitor Information Centre has a steady flow of visitors inquiring about the camp.
“They will now be able to hand them one of our maps and direct them to the site, knowing they can go on a self-guided walking circuit following the numbers on the signs.
Significant: Benalla Migrant Camp was the place more than 60,000 Australians called their first home in the great southern land.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
“We are proud to have funded the entire cost of the design and manufacture of the signs from our fundraising, including obtaining a small community grant from council to pay for the installation of the signs by their own staff.
“We commissioned the design from Flying Pig Design and we are so happy with how attractive the signs look.
“Our committee is supporting local businesses where we can, and we are very pleased that Benalla Signs and Designs made the signs and frames locally,” Ms Smyth said.
“This has been a real community effort.”
If you haven’t taken a tour of the former migrant camp, there has never been a better time to pop over to the site and learn about a significant part of Benalla’s history.
14°C