Migrant camp memorabilia honours Benalla’s history in lakeside exhibition

By Simon Ruppert

Jul 19, 2024

The display features personal items donated to the Benalla Migrant Hut Exhibition, and the stories of the people who owned them. Photo by Simon Ruppert

The Benalla Migrant Camp, open from 1949 to 1967, was home to more than 60,000 people.

It was the first page in the book of many local people’s post-war lives.

Its story embodies the multicultural melting pot that has made Australia the country it is today.

The exhibition features a page from the *Benalla Standard* printed in 1963, which tells the stories of some of the camp’s residents. Photo by Simon Ruppert

These items are usually on display at Hut 11 at the former migrant camp site at Benalla Airport.

Curator of that permanent display, and this exhibition, Sabine Smyth said it was a free pop-up exhibition that she hoped the community would visit.

“It’s in the Visitor Information Centre (on Mair St), and is open every day until September,” Ms Smyth said.

The exhibition had an official opening and morning tea on Sunday, July 21 from 10am to 11.30am.

Books such as these provided entertainment and a link to the migrant camp residents’ homelands. Photo by Simon Ruppert

Ms Smyth said the light and airy space, next to Lake Benalla, was the perfect setting for an exhibition.

“One of the reasons all the chests we have on display are so amazing is because people who came from European countries loaded their own chests on to the ships,” she said.

“And because their names were so complicated they were given a paint brush and asked to write their own name and destination on them.

“These chests were really important pieces to the families, and we feel very honoured they have given them to us.”

Migrants were asked to write their own family name and destination on the big wooden cases they used to bring personal possessions to Australia, as often those arranging passage struggled with the spelling of unfamiliar surnames. Photo by Simon Ruppert

Ms Smyth said she jumped at the chance to exhibit in the Visitor Information Centre.

“We have a fantastic tourism officer in here Benalla, Alison Angus, who has a rolling program of exhibitions at the Visitor Information Centre,” she said.

Local people might have popped in to see the photographic display of old Benalla buildings that was curated by the Benalla Historical Society, or the David Bromley exhibition curated by Benalla Street Art Festival director Eddie Zammit.

These big, often hand-made trunks carried all the possessions new migrants could fit as they set off for their new life in Australia. Photo by Simon Ruppert

Ms Smyth said the permanent exhibition at the Benalla Migrant Camp, Hut 11, was still growing.

The site also has a self-guided tour, with signage taking visitors on a trip back in time, painting a picture of what the camp looked like in its heyday.

“That’s going really well,” Ms Smyth said.

“So, regardless of whether the exhibition is open or not, people will be able to start at the main sign at the camp entrance gates, which are off Samaria Rd.

“They can then follow the signs by number. And there’s also a brochure. You can walk in without the brochure because the signs are numbered, but it helps.

“People can pick up one of those at the Visitor Information Centre while you’re viewing the exhibition.”