P.O.W. Campsite

When you think of POWs and Australia’s involvement in World War II, it usually brings thoughts of Australian’s being held in POW camps in Japanese-occupied territories. There were 28 major camps established in Australia. The Cowra Prisoner of War Camp was camp 12, opening in June 1941, even though it hadn’t been completed. Prisoners didn’t ... Read more

Prisoners didn’t start arriving until months later, with building of the camp continued for years into 1944. The construction of buildings were by POWs and local labourers. Prisoners lived in tents until April 1942 when accommodation huts were finally built. By the end of 1942, over 2,000 persons were in the camp, made up of prisoners and internees.

At this stage, it was mainly Italians in the camp. During 1943 and through to August 1944, over 1,000 Japanese POWs and internees arrived at the camp. Overcrowding became an issue by June 1942, leading to an event of Australia only ‘s first fight on home soil.

In August 1942, an outbreak was staged by the Japanese prisoners. 300 prisoners escaped and over 250 died. It is the largest revolt of this type in Australia. 231 Japanese soldiers killed in the outbreak are at the Japanese War Cemeteries , also located in Cowra.

When the POW campsite was closed at the end of the war, the land was sold with part of the site remaining as a public reserve. Most of the facilities have been destroyed, 18 buildings were burnt to the ground during the Japanese breakout. The two surviving buildings were sold and moved off the site, with some foundation ruins to look at.

There are a lot of information boards around providing information about the POW camp in Cowra and the war in general. In spite of the hardships and the tragic event that occurred, it is a beautiful and quiet, peaceful place to stop.

Sakura Avenue (Cherry Tree Avenue) links the POW Campsite to the Japanese Garden, another brown sign with historical links to Cowra’s role in World War Two. The Cowra parkrun starts 100m from the POW Campsite along Sakura Ave and follows the Cowra Breakout Cycleway and Walking path.

Directions

From the Cowra Visitor Information Centre, turn left out of the carpark onto Lachlan Valley Way, then immediately right onto the Mid Western Hwy. Follow the Mid Western Hwy for 950m and turn left at the lights into Brisbane St with the brown sign for Japanese Garden. Follow Brisbane St, becoming Binni Creek Rd, for 2.4km and turn right into Evans St with the brown sign for P.O.W. Campsite. Follow Evans St for 950m and the parking P.O.W. Campsite is on the right.

If heading west into Cowra on the Mid Western Hwy, you will pass a brown sign for Japanese Garden when entering Cowra just before crossing over Waugoola Ola Creek. From the bridge, continue for another 1.8km and turn right at the lights into Brisbane St with the brown sign for Japanese Garden. Follow Brisbane St, becoming Binni Creek Rd, for 2.4km and turn right into Evans St with the brown sign for P.O.W. Campsite. Follow Evans St for 950m and the parking P.O.W. Campsite is on the right.

If heading north into Cowra on the Lachlan Valley Way, follow the Lachlan Valley Way to the end where the Cowra Visitor Information Centre is on the left. Turn right onto the Mid Western Hwy, using the directions above from the visitor centre.

If heading north into Cowra on the Olympic Hwy, follow the Olympic Hwy to the end where the Cowra Visitor Information Centre is on the right. Turn right onto the Mid Western Hwy, using the directions above from the visitor centre.

If heading east into Cowra on the Mid Western Hwy, continue into town passing the Visitor Information Centre on the right shortly before crossing the Lachlan River. From the bridge, continue for 600m and turn left at the lights into Brisbane St with the brown sign for Japanese Garden. Follow Brisbane St, becoming Binni Creek Rd, for 2.4km and turn right into Evans St with the brown sign for P.O.W. Campsite. Follow Evans St for 950m and the parking P.O.W. Campsite is on the right.

If heading south into Cowra on Canowindra Rd, as the speed zone changes to 80km/h, turn left after 300m into Doncaster Dr with the brown sign for P.O.W Campsite. Passing the War Cemeteries Brown Sign link

, follow Doncaster Dr to the end for 800m and turn right onto Binni Creek Rd. Follow Binni Creek Rd for 1.2km and turn left into Evans St with another brown sign. Follow Evans St for 950m and the parking P.O.W. Campsite is on the right.

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