Signage for the Benalla Migrant Camp

My name is Sabine Smyth and I hope you can help us place signage at one of regional Victoria's most significant migration heritage sites. I am heading up a campaign to place interpretative signage at the site of Benalla's former Migrant Camp where over 60,000 European migrants (refugees from World War 2) lived for some time between 1949 and 1967.

At the moment the site looks very forlorn. There is nothing to mark the places of significance such as the camp main gates, the hospital, the chapel, the shop, the canteen. The few original structures (which are State Heritage Listed) badly need signage to at least acknowledge them, and explain what they were, with images and text.

It will mean so much to former residents, and their families. It will be so good for our tourism visitors, to be able to wander over the site and follow a well-signed Benalla Migrant Camp Heritage Walk.

Whilst we have raised the majority of the funds and have already paid for the design last year, delays due to COVID have meant we are now $3,500 short (due to a sharp rise in the price of steel).

Please help us by the end of July and make your donation as soon as you can.