• Block 19 today
• Site map
• Visitor book comments
• 'My Bonegilla'
• Volunteers
• Link to audio tours
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Site map

Start your visit with a trip to the information centre. Get your audio/tour brochures for $5, sunscreen, Aeroguard, refreshments and souvenirs. Guided tours available by appointment.

Immerse yourself in history and learn from the migrants themselves who came to Australia to make a new beginning. Attractions include the Whispering Wall, Tribute Wall and historical DVD.

See for yourself how far the former ablution, laundry and shower block was from the accommodation huts. Imagine the women socialising while doing the laundry.

This building was originally a quartermaster’s store, but, when the first group of displaced persons arrived, part of it was used temporarily as an employment office. New arrivals were interviewed, assessed and dispatched to jobs all over Australia. Some took up employment at Bonegilla itself. The building was later converted into a staff club building and used for recreational purposes.

Originally, women and children were housed separately from the men until the accommodation huts were partitioned into cubicles for families. Large families sometimes occupied two or more adjoining cubicles.

Each block at Bonegilla had its own kitchen and dining areas. All food was prepared for the migrants here, and they ate together at small table settings. The Department of Immigration followed dietary guidelines and menus similar to those used by the army. 

This large recreational hall was the social hub on Block 19 and was used for activities such as picture shows, dances and concerts. It was called the ‘Tudor Hall’ because it contained pictures of the Tudor monarchs and British coats-of-arms to help the migrants identify with the British heritage of Australia.
 

Enlarged Bonegilla site map (157 KB)