Hay Prisoner of War Camp 8

Camp name: Hay Prisoner of War Camp 8
Country: Australia
Short description: Camp 8 was the largest and longest running of Hay’s three camps operated between September 1940 and October 1946. It first held Italians, Germans and Austrians and later Japanese. Detainees set up a farm and market garden but also painted, produced their own news sheet, staged concerts and set up a soccer field.
Extended description: Camp 8 was the largest 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 the first to be completed in September 1940. It was built on the site of the racecourse, supplied with water and electric lights and divided into three compounds each detaining 1000 men. Nicknamed the ‘Communist’ camp, it first held Italians, Germans and Austrians from the HMT Dunera and Japanese survivors from the Cowra breakout were taken there in August 1944. It was the last to close when its Italian prisoners were repatriated in October 1946. Materials and equipment were sold at auction and the showground and racecourse area was restored and rebuilt.
Subject: Internment camps
Locality name: Hay
City, town or suburb: Hay, NSW
Operation start date: 1940
Operation end date: 1946