Hay Internment Camp 6
Item
-
Camp name
-
Hay Internment Camp 6
-
Country
-
Australia
-
Short description
-
Camp 6 operated between November 1940 and May 1946. Built for 1000 men it mainly held Italian internees transferred from other camps. They built their own gardens in the camps as well dams, piggeries and model dairies on experimental farms. Detainees also painted and sketched, made wooden toys and established schools.
-
Extended description
-
Opened in November 1940, Camp 6 was one of three camps built approximately 2.5 km outside the western New South Wales town of Hay chosen for its flat, dry landscape, making escape difficult. It was built for 1000 men and had a hexagonal layout with rows of services down the middle with sleeping huts either side and supplied with water and electric lights. It mainly held Italians transferred from other camps in the state but some Japanese were also held there. They built their own vegetable and ornamental gardens and paving with bricks they made themselves. Some prisoners were taken out for wood cutting and for experimentation with new farming practices where Italians also built dams, piggeries and model dairies. Like in the other two camps at Hay, the detainees painted and sketched, made wooden toys for local children also established schools for those aged between 17 and 20 who could learn everything from another language to chemistry. They also held lectures on general topics and practical classes such as wood-carving. The camp was dismantled in May 1946, materials and equipment sold at auction and the showground and racecourse area was restored and rebuilt.
-
Locality name
-
Hay
-
City, town or suburb
-
Hay, NSW
-
Operation start date
-
1940
-
Operation end date
-
1946
Lamberto Yonna Report on Internees
Lamberto Yonna Service and Casualty Form