Loveday Prisoner of War Camp N9

Camp name: Loveday Prisoner of War Camp N9
Country: Australia
Short description: Loveday Prisoner of War Camp N9 was dedicated only to Italian internees.
Extended description: Loveday held the largest number of detainees throughout World War Two with more than 5000 at its peak in 1943. Located near the town of Barmera, on the Murray River chosen for its easy access to rail and road, irrigation and telephone and electricity supply. Four separate compounds were linked by areas of cleared land that were cultivated by the detainees. Camp 9 held Italian internees, Camp 10 held Italian and German PoWs, Camp 14 was the largest and was divided in 4 areas for Italians, Germans, Japanese and Chinese from Taiwan/Formosa holding 1000 each. Detainees were engaged in meaningful work growing crops such as vegetables, tobacco and pharmaceutical plants and were paid for their labour. The camp included a golf course and was closed in 1946.
Locality name: Barmera; Loveday
City, town or suburb: Barmera, SA
Operation start date: 1941
Operation end date: 1946