Australia’s WW2 P.O.W Bush Camps - MARRINUP No.16

Written By Brendan Meharry

Located 100km south of Perth, Western Australia in the Marrinup State Forrest, remains of a World War 2 prisoner of war camp (P.O.W) can be found. Seemingly unusual at first considering Australia’s geographical position compared to the frontlines of the war, the government set up this camp (and many others across the country) to relieve labour shortages during the conflict. German and Italian prisoners were shipped here from India and Libya and were used for logging and farming purposes. By all accounts, they were treated quite well, but I can’t imagine how hard it would have been to be imprisoned so far from home – especially in such an alien setting as the Australian bush. Not only do we explore the ruins of Marrinup No.16, but we also check out the Marrinup campsite which was the location of a logging town from the 1880s to the 1930s, only to be abandoned and then ultimately wiped out by a bushfire in 1961.

Brendan Meharry
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