Harvey Agricultural College (fmr)

Child Places

• 03168 Italian Prisoner of War Shrine at Harvey Agric High School
• 11998 Replica of the Hut Homestead
• 03168 Italian Prisoner of War Shrine at Harvey Agric High School

Statement of Significance

The place is the first purpose built internment camp in Western Australia and demonstrates the interment policy implemented by the Australian Government during World War II. The place has social value for former internees and reflects the way in which Italian nationals were percieved during World War II. The place is also associated with the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme, which trained ex-servicemen and women in agricultural methods, and later other students of the Harvey Agricultural College. The place was also briefly used for military training for the 3rd Australian Corps after the internment camp was closed. There is some potential for archaeological deposts associated with the phases of occupation of the place to be present on the site, which may provide further information regarding the different activities undertaken there over time.

Physical Description

The place comprises a range of buildings dating from the 1940 establishment of an internment camp through to the 1980s use of the place as a senior high school. Approximately 20 buildings remain on the property, which has, in addition to its use as an internment camp during World War II, was used as the 3rd Australian Corps Training School, the Harvey Rural Training Centre, and an agricultural wing of the Harvey Senior High School. The buildings include the original prison building, hospital, and barracks buildings, as well as dwellings and later buildings constructed for educational purposes.

History

The camp, also known as No. 11 Internment Camp or Camp No. 11, was the first purpose built internment camp in Western Australia, established in 1941. The majority of the internees held there were Italians. For two weeks in late 1941, Camp No. 11 also housed the German survivors of the Kormoran. In April 1942, approximately 500 internees at Harvey Camp No. 11 were transferred to the temporary camp in Kalgoorlie, before being relocated again to Loveday in South Australia. For the remainder of the war, the camp was utilised as the 3rd Australian Corps Training School. At the end of the war, the Department of Defence offered the property to the WA Department of Agriculture for use as a rural training centre. In 1953 the former Harvey Rural Training Centre was identified as available for housing agriculture students undertaking education or training in south-western Australia. The place has since been used as the Harvey Agricultural College until recently.

Archaeology

Potential for archaeological artefacts and features to be present across the site.

Condition

Good to Excellent Condition

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.