Hopeful of finding the P.O.W camp I came across a decade or more ago.
Hit and miss really.
When I came across it previously it was only because I spotted something white through the trees.
That proved to be the entrance to the camp.
Round about way to get there. Many tracks in the bush are not sign posted.
Once I leave the main road, Pinjarra-Williams road at Freeman rd it will be fingers crossed.
No phone/wifi coverage
If I have not posted 8 hours from now, send in the troops.
That’s interesting Bretrick, good luck and if you find it please post some pictures What’s mapping like in Australia, surely you need a decent map if you’re out in the bush. Possibly a GPS unit too particularly if you’re on foot?
I am still old school. I draw myself a map of the roads I need to travel.
If the roads are not sign posted I take pot luck. At unsignposted roads, I draw a large arrow on the road indicating where I came from.
So the return trip will see me turn at the correct places.
Happened today on the way to Marinup. Most roads where not signed, coming to a fork in the road, I winged it and picked the correct way. Several times I had to choose, Which way?
Each time was correct and because the distance was less than 8km I was abe to remember the return trip. Though I did go the wrong way once on the return trip.
But went less than 100 metres before telling myself,“I do not recognise this way.” turned around and went the right way.
Too tired to upload pictures at the moment.
Tomorrow. Though there was not a lot to see at what is left of the P.O.W camp, just concrete slabs and some interpretive signage.
I don’t suppose GPS would work that far away from civilisation Chilli.
You can’t go far wrong with a compass and make a note of your direction.
I still much prefer map and compass when I’m out in the wild places although satellite reception is good wherever you go in England. It’s very annoying, because it encourages people to wander about everywhere…
Yes, a good map and compass first and foremost Foxy. As for GPS units my understanding is that they can come into their own far from civilisation, in deserts for example, satellites are far reaching. I’ll have to have a bit of a Google later. We’re just off for a stroll around the mill pond, no maps or satellites required!
Have a good ramble Chilli.
When I take a wrong turn while driving, or have to relate to a map while walking with some friends. I always say…“You can’t get lost in England”…“You might not know where you are sometimes, but you’re never lost!”
@Chilliboot @OldGreyFox
As I mentioned, there is very little left at the Marrinup P.O.W camp which is situated 30km, 18 miles from Pinjarra, which itself is 80km, 50 miles south of Perth.
[media=Marrinup POW Camp - Dwellingup - Destination Murray]
Road leading into the camp
Railway line that serviced the camp
Steam Train Marrinup
Entrance to No 16 P.O.W camp Marrinup
As the camp appears today
With a post-war labour shortage, a network of camps and control centres was built across Australia for POW’s shipped from Libyaand India to help the Australian workforce, particularly inrural areas.
WA had 1 POW camp and 30 Control Centres. Number 16 POW Compound and Garrison was built to provide farm labour and cut firewood for Perth.
It was approximately 16ha in size and some of the foundations can still be seen
The camp could accommodate 1200 men, including Army personnel and thousands of prisoners passed through its gates, mostly Italians or Germans with an average age of 30.
Many Italians were chosen for their rural working background and less troublesome nature, while some Germans were taken because of their skills as woodcutters.
Italian Prisoners of War - Marrinup
Barracks
Marrinup P.O.W. camp outlay
Australia’s WW2 P.O.W Bush Camps - MARRINUP No.16
Excellent!
Thanks for sharing those pictures Bretrick. Up until now I would never have known that there were prisoner of war camps in Australia, quite an eye opener.
Australia had 20 prisoner of war camps across the country.
There were also a dozen internment camps where non-naturalised ‘enemy’ civilians living in Australia were interned.
Thanks for that Bretrick, very informative and interesting. It’s also fascinating that nature always takes back what man has constructed, eventually.
We also had a labour shortage after the war and imported thousands of people. They never went home.