Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre

A sculpture commemorating the migrants who spent time at the Bonegilla camp. Some of Block 19 can be seen in the background.
Block 4 of the camp while operational in 1954

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 II Australian 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]

  1. ^ a b c "Bonegilla Migrant Experience & Block 19 Today". Bonegilla Migrant Experience. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  2. ^ Freeman, Peter (1999). "Confinement in Bonegilla Migrant Camp, Victoria". Historic Environment. 14 (2): 39–44. ISSN 0726-6715 – via Australian Public Affairs Full Text.
  3. ^ "Bonegilla Migrant Camp – Block 19, Victoria". Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  4. ^ "Jason Agius on Instagram: "Nonno would have been 96 today. 70 years ago, he first arrived in Australia and temporarily lodged at Bonegilla Migrant Reception. This was his passport photo which was used for his "Alien Registration Form" at Bonegilla. Also pictured is a plaque now installed at the Bonegilla Migrant Experience - the museum on the original site. You sacrificed so much to give your family a better life, and for that I'll always be indebted. I trust Nonna made your favourite lemon cake for you up there today. 😌🍰 . . . #nonno #bonegilla #italian #migration #wodonga #australia #australianhistory #family #familyhistory #museum #passport #passportphoto #vintage #vintagepassportphoto #littleeurope #toscana #barga #lucca #italy"".
  5. ^ "Talking Heads – Dr Karl Kruszelnicki". ABC website. 9 June 2008. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  6. ^ Cresciani, Gianfranco (2003). The Italians in Australia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 135–. ISBN 978-0-521-53778-0. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Australian Heritage Database" (PDF). Australian Federal Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 March 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  8. ^ "Community Life Is a Piece Of Cake". Sydney Morning Herald. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  9. ^ Gaita, Raimond (1999). Romulus, My Father.