Harvey Internment & Army Parade Grounds & Ablution Block 1940s

The Harvey Internment and Army Parade Grounds and Ablution Block form part of the original Camp No. 11, one of Western Australia’s key World War II internment camps.

From 1940, it housed around 1,200 men, including 818 Italian internees. Camp No. 11 closed in April 1942 following Japan’s attack on Darwin and concerns about the security of WA’s coastline.

The Australian Army later used the area as the 3rd Australian Corps Training School.

Now State Heritage-listed, this is one of the best-preserved internment and Prisoner of War (POW) sites in Australia.

A Western Australian TAFE building now stands on the site of the original Camp parade grounds. To the north of the TAFE building, you can still see the remnants of the Camp Ablutions, which included hot showers and laundry facilities.