Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre

The site was a former World War II Australian Army base, and is adjacent to the current Latchford Barracks.

[4] Other former residents include Karl Kruszelnicki,[5] Franca Arena,[6] Arvi Parbo, Les Murray,[1][7] Susan Duncan,[8] Pi O and Raimond Gaita.

[10] In 1945 the Australian Government, led by the ALP, actively sought to implement policies that would increase the natural population.

[2] However, less than 7000 British citizens migrated during the period, which meant that the government instead turned to the displaced persons and war refugees (of which there were an estimated 1.6 million) in French, Austrian, and German camps.

These migrants were granted passage under a two-year labour contract to be housed at the reception and training centres to adjust into the 'Australian way of life'.

[2] The camp, with very basic facilities, was separated socially and geographically from nearby Albury and Wodonga and most residents were from non-English speaking nations.

There was some minor allowance for the preferences of migrants, but consistent refusals of work offers could result in loss of social service benefits.

[16] Men were classified as 'labourers' and women as 'domestics'; many were frustrated by the ignorance of trade, professional, and skill qualifications and were expected to start work as simple labourers, though some received award wages.

The distant location from the metropolitan cities of Melbourne and Sydney was ideal, as it was feared that migrants would create ethnic groups which would damage the image of the immigration program.

Giovanni Sgro, an Italian migrant and later Victorian politician, recalled that, "[we] burned two or three huts and set fire to the church".

[3] Bonegilla's Block 19 was selected for its "outstanding" significance as "a symbol of post-war migration which transformed Australia's economy, society, and culture".

[1] In 1997, the Albury Regional Museum began collecting for a ten-day festival commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bonegilla's opening.

[10] In 2001, the Victorian Government allocated two million dollars for the construction of a tourism venue and commemorative centre at Block 19.

[20] The Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre will be the backdrop of an upcoming Australian film, starring Vince Colosimo, Isabel Lucas and James Bond actor George Lazenby.