Northam Army Camp Heritage Association Inc.

View of the corrugated-iron buildings at Northam Army Camp. Building H8 at Northam Army Camp. View of a group of corrugated-iron buildings at Northam Army Camp. The sentry box at the entrance to Northam Army Camp.

What is Northam Army Camp?

As part of the overall build-up of Australia’s defences in 1934/35, the Department of the Army selected the Northam Army Camp site, which was located near an existing rifle range, for use as a training camp for Citizen Military Forces. Following the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, the camp became an important military training base for Western Australia - a role which has continued up to the present time.

Located about five kilometres south-west of Northam, the camp comprises about 70 accommodation huts and other ancillary buildings including a mess hall and a parade ground built by Italian POWs in 1946.

About This Website

This website has been developed by the Northam Army Camp Heritage Association Inc (NACHA) with funding assistance from Lotterywest’s Interpretation of Cultural Heritage grants program.

We are a non profit organisation whose aims include sharing the military, POW and migrant history of the camp with the broader community.

We hope you enjoy the Northam Army Camp experience and encourage you to contact us to tell us your stories about this important place.

Camp Timeline

Pre-European Settlement

This area was part of the lands of the Ballardong people.

1829 – 1830

The first land grants were taken up in the Northam district.

1871

The Northam Road Board was gazetted.

1879

Northam became a municipality.

1886

The Eastern Railway arrives in Northam in 1886.

1896

In this year, a Mounted Rifle Troops was formed.

1903

CY O’Connor’s Golden Pipeline completed.

1910

National Training was introduced for young boys.

1914

The Australian Imperial Force was raised.

1935

The Army establish a permanent camp at Northam because of its strategic position.

1935 – 1939

The camp was planned, cleared and some permanent buildings erected.

1939

An intense building program was started at the Northam Army Camp with 175 huts erected in one month.

1939 – 1945

Northam Army Camp was the brigade training camp for the 2nd Australian Imperial Force.

1946

The camp housed 3500 Italian Prisoners of War (POWs).

1949 – 1951

Northam Army Camp began to operate as the Department of Immigration Accommodation Centre.

1950 – 1953

Northam Army Camp returned to its military role hosting training for personnel bound for the Korean War.

1950s – 1960s

Northam Army Camp fell into decline and a number of buildings were removed from the site.

1990s

The sale and removal of buildings as well as the Defence Department's plans to dispose of the site became a matter for public concern.

2004

A consultant's report estimated that "only about 52 of some 400 pre-1951 buildings remain".

2010

Australian Government announces establishment of an immigration detention centre at the site.

Present Day

Northam Army Camp is still used for military training.

View the Detailed Camp Timeline