Australian POW camps

[Ian Fawbert]

Lang,

As you head south on the Hume Highway, not far past the Campbelltown Steam Museum and on the north side of the Picton Rd turn off, there are strange huts in the dairy paddocks. They look like POW type camp observation towers.

Years went by, we would drive past on the way to my grandparents. Mum and Dad didnt know the answer to what they were nor did others we would ask (not being from the area and pre computer, it wasnt as easy!).

Fast forward to about 5 years back, i was speaking to Les Bell. He too had seen them and often wondered. Moving into the area not long ago, he started asking. He said he'd found out that they were POW type/ww2 camp guard towers, and also were part of a railway line station (i think that was what he said) which was to bring those imprisoned, either POW or citizens of axis nations who those in the know said needed to be locked up (similar to Cowra i guess).

Regardless, it solved a mystery (one of the many!). They are still there, quite visible though sadder than they were when i remember then as a kid 25 years back. There used to be more visible, they have collapsed- the dairy cows rubbing on 70+ year old timber structures doesnt aid much, but the main one or two arent hard to spot- on the left, about 50-150 metres off the road as you head south.

Les didn't find much info on it (back then) and i havent thought to ask if he had found more by now.

Cheers,
Ian.