We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Untitled image
Can you reuse this media without permission? No (with exceptions, see below)
All rights reserved
This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Carved by German POW at Camp 13
Bas relief stone carving. A map of Australia, flanked by a kangaroo, boomerang and a kookaburra and "Tatura 1940 Australia" on the boomerang
Tatura 1940 Australia
Jim Sullivan was posted to Camp 4
Black and white photograph of man casually sitting on a rock. black shoes and Sergeants strips on his pullover.
sullivan, camp 4, japanese, tatura
Sgt Allan Timms was a Sergeant in Camp 3 Tatura
Black and white portrait of Camp 3 Army Garrison Sergeant Allan Timms in uniform. Wearing uniform hat and Sergeant strips on his uniform.
timms, garrison, camp 3, wendy hicks, sgt timms
Index by Lorraine Waldron to the book Heart of the Valley Toolamba 1840 to 1983
Booklet A4 softcover light blue with dark blue spine black typeface
heart of the vallely, toolamba, stewart morvell, bill morvell, lorraine waldron, shepparton family history group 2008
Donation from Altona Historical Society, Owen Hyde. The book shows different styles of courthouses and their builders around Victoria.
Hard cover with dust jacket. Hard cover is burgundy. Dust jacket is burgundy with a white rectangle on front with sketches of historic court houses surrounding the title and author. Spine has title and author on it.
courthouses, courthouses of victoria, courthouses of tatura, altona historical society, historic courthouses, courthouse architecture, courthouse trials
Dhurringile POW Camp Tatura
Black and White photograph of five people under two ornate arches at Dhurringile POW Camp. One man is standing next two three women and one man seated. All in uniform.
dhurringile, tatura, pow camp, danson
No 1 Camp Garrison beer garden. The sergeant is from the Canteen Sgt's Mess
Black and white photograph of the No 1 Camp Garrison Beer garden. Two hunts on the left of picture and and a partial glimpse of huts on the right. The huts are surrounded by gardens. In the centre of the garden is a table with two bench seats on either side. A man is standing off to the right of photo. A large tree behind him.
camp 1, garrison, beer garden, sergeant, sergeants mess, canteen, tatura, danson
Camp 1 Tatura
Black and White photo of Camp 1 Parade Ground with Guard Room on left with the number 24 on the side of one of the huts. Guards lined up outside on each side of ground. Personnel Hub on right. A stone walled garden is on the right. Two poles in the middle of the picture.
camp 1, tatura, army guards internment camps, camp 1 garrison parade, huts, guards, garrison
No 1 camp compound Tatura
Black and White photograph of No 1 Camp compound. Two huts behind a wire fence. Trees in the background. In the foreground is a round garden.
camp 1, tatura, danson, camp garden
The pendant was made for Sister Lorraine Danson by a German internee
Black and white photograph of a silver pendant made from a silver florin. A cut-out of a kookaburra and a baby bird with its mouth open sit of a branch. Leaves hang from another branch.
28 camp hospital, danson, german internee, pendant, silver, florin, handmade
The tennis court at 28 Camp Hospital Tatura
Black and White photograph of a tennis court, Two men and two women player each holding racquets. The court is surrounded by tall poles some appear to have lights on them. small shrubs in the foreground.
tennis, 28 camp hospital internment camp 1, camp hospital, tennis court, tatura
28 Camp Hospital Tatura
Black and white photograph of four hospital staff. Sister J Berryman in Nurses uniform with veil; an A.W.A.S Cook; a German Orderly; Sister E. Henderson in army uniform and hat. Standing in front of an unknown object on a path. Trees behind.
28 camp hospital, tatura, nurse, awas nurse, orderly, uniform
No 28 Camp Hospital Tatura
Black and white photograph of seven No 28 Camp Hospital staff pictured beside the Adminstration Block. Left to Right: Sgt "Blosson"; Sgt ?; Sister N Hamilton; Pte Mulrogue; Cpl (stores); Pte Malick; Sgt Sarsfield
tatura, 28 camp hospital internment camp 1, 28 camp hospital, hamilton,
The 28 Camp hospital store was opposite the camp kitchen. Pictured from left is an unknown Corporal, an unknown man, and Private Maher.
Black and White photograph of three men standing in front of a corrugated iron building. The garden is lined with rocks with large trees behind the building. One man has a white apron on the other two are wearing white gowns that appear to be or similar to medical gowns.
28 camp hospital, store, maher, danson
German Internees who worked as Orderlies at the 28 Camp hospital.
Black and White photograph of four German Internee orderlies at 28 Camp Hospital Tatura. Each internee is wearing a white apron.
german, orderlies, 28 camp hospital internment camp 1, tatura, internees, danson
Sister D Evans; Sister Robinson; Sister E Chalmers; Capt P Gorman MD; Sister M Morrison; Sister M Peck
Sr E Chalmers; Sr M Peck; Sr S O'Shannessy; Sr D Evans; Sr L Danson; Sr Robinson Sr M Morrison. Nursing staff from 28 Camp Hospital
Black and White photograph of seven nurses from 28 Camp Hospital Tatura
nurse, 28 camp hospital, tatura, chalmers, peck, o'shannessy, evans, danson, robinson, morrison
"Whacko" the cocktoo was the Camp mascot.
Black and White photo of three nursing sisters in their uniforms and veils: Sr L Danson, Sr P Hooper who is holding "Whacko" the cockatoo and Sr P WIllis. Camp building in the background
whack, cocatoo, 28 camp hospital, army nurses, danson, hooper, willis
Sister M Morrison and R B Keeble were nurses at 28 Camp hospital Tatura
Black and white photo of Sister M Morrison and Sister B Keeble. Both wearing a suit with buttoned up jackets, tie and hat. Lace up shoes.
sister morrison, sister keeble, nurse, 28 camp hospital, camp 1, danson, "tatura" by wh bossence
These fuel price signs were used throughout Australia.
Circular sign showing large black numbers 2/3. The words "Including 7 1/4d duty" in black around the lower rim. Metal frame, price card can be rotated to suit mounting position (double sided) and behind glass and rubber gasket.
petrol, service stations, sign, fuel, price
Item made by an Italian POW held in Camp 13
murchison, camp 13, italian, pow, monkey
Item made by an Italian POW held in Camp 13
murchison, camp 13, pow, italian, monkey, '
Item made by an Italian POW held in Camp 13
Sandstone hand-carved monkey and ashtray. Monkey has decorative markings. Ashtray has a diamond shaped recess carved into the top and decorated with two brown and black painted snakes and green and white leaves
Ashtray: Prisoner of War on top Monkey: Ricordo on side and Ricordo POW on bottom
camp 13, murchison, pow, italian, monkey
Carl Wied was an internee in Camp 3
Small ring made from a silver coin by Carl Wied, Camp 3. The band splits in two at the top on each side with a heart on top
silver, handmade, wied, ring, heart, carl wied, helga anderson
Tatura Rural Services operated in Tatura for many years and was located in Ross Street, virtually opposite the water tower. Business was owned by Bill Brown and later sold to Ritchie Trevaskis.
small brass plaque with black background, gold rim around edge and gold writing
Built by Tatura Rural Services Constructional Engineers
tatura rural services, constructional engineers, ross street tatura, bill brown, ritchie trevaskis
Photographs and letters written to Doreen Jeffery by her husband Bruce whilst away at WW2. Compiled by Jeanette Thompson, one of his daughter
Soft covered book with photograph of a man in the middle, title above, letters in background and author at bottom. Back has family photograph with letters in background.
doreen jeffery, bruce jeffery, jeanette thompson
The dolls house and furniture was made by Heinrich August Ernst KOCH, who was interned at Orange NSW on the 6 June 1940. In 1941 was taken to Tatura VIC for an appeals tribunal hearing. He was released in 1943 to the Civil Alien Corp. The donor of the dolls house, John Smiles, is the grandson of Heinrich. Heinrich made the dolls house and furniture which he made for his daughters in Sydney NSW. It was sent to them whilst interned. The furniture is copies of real life size items and the house has features common with the family home in Sydney.
Wooden, painted dolls house, made from packing crates. 5 main pieces with additional pieces (roof, chimney, stairs, outside roof area, furniture) which go together to form this long single story dolls house. Painted in cream with green features and red roof. Windows and doors open. Several windows have glass in them. Original piece of Lino in kitchen area. 2 rooms are wallpapered. Original pieces of furniture are included (see list attached to worksheet). These include dining table and four chairs, side board, dressing table, bed, tall boy, low boy, entrance table, entrance bench, entrance hall stand, kitchen table, 4 chairs and 2 benches.
heinrich august ernst koch, john smiles, orange internment camp, tatura internment camp, civil alien corp
Story written by Haakon Nilsen, an internee in Australia during WW2. Tells his story as a child, his mother, father and eventually finding other relations in America and life at sea prior to WW2.
Soft cover book, with white cover. Front is divided in three. Top section depicting riverbank and river and trees; middle has title and authors name; bottom has a picture of a ship "Touraine"
haakon nilsen, australian internee, touraine
Blue soft cover book with title and authors name in gold. Also on spine. Back has "copyright" in gold in centre.
Written history of the Bossence and Honeychurch family by the author W H Bossence.
White hard cover. Cover design by Anne Bossence. Dust jacket red, white and black. Title and author in black print. Sketch on front is of a shield in red and black with two red stars and dragons head. Back cover white
bossence w, honeychurch, family history of honeychurch family, family history of bossence family
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
