The Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre was a camp set up for receiving and training migrants to Australia during the post World War II immigration boom. The camp was set on 130 hectares (320 acres) near Wodonga at the locality of Bonegilla in north east Victoria,[1] between the Hume Dam and the city of Wodonga. The site was a former World War IIAustralian Army base, and is adjacent to the current Latchford Barracks. Before being requisitioned by the army, the site was originally a section of large pastoral land.[2] The camp opened in 1947 and operated until 1971, over which period it received over 300,000 migrants.[1] It is estimated that over 1.5 million Australians are descended from migrants who spent time at Bonegilla.[3]Eric Bana's parents were both processed through Bonegilla. The grandfather of actor and screenwriter Jason Agius stayed at the camp in 1952.[4] Other former residents include Karl Kruszelnicki,[5]Franca Arena,[6]Arvi Parbo, Les Murray,[1][7]Susan Duncan,[8]Pi O and Raimond Gaita.[9]
^Freeman, Peter (1999). "Confinement in Bonegilla Migrant Camp, Victoria". Historic Environment. 14 (2): 39–44. ISSN0726-6715 – via Australian Public Affairs Full Text.