“THE MYSTERY CAMP."

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1920, Page 3

“THE MYSTERY CA M P."

AUSTRALIAN INTERNMENT

CENTRE BEING DEMOLISHED SYDNEY; Dec. 8.

A link between Australia and one of tho really curious incidents of the Great War is being demolished." A hull dred tired labourers out near the site of the Federal capital of Canberra are domolshing a huge internment camp. It was built, at a cost of £150,000 to the British Government, and it was never occupied. Those who closely followed the war news may remember the course of Chino German relationship. China, under Allied pressure, declared war on Germany. Some time later, still under Allied—particularly British—pressure China decided to intern all Gorans. Then an acute problem developed. Where wer c the Germans to bo interned. There seemed to he difficulty in finding a suitable place in the Far East. Food supply at that time dominated all considerations. Someone suggested that it would be easier to take tho Germans to the food than to engage ships to carry the food to the Germans. Tho British War Office fell avidly upon the idea.

So ono day in 1917, out in the Federal Territory, there suddenly commenced an unexpected mad flurry of building operations. Armies of workmen and trainload after trainload of building material arrived from all parts of the State. Building operations went on day and night and on Sundays. The whole place was surrounded in mysceiy No one was allowed to publish anything about the'activity, and a tang of military guards kept the curious away. All that ivqs known was that a camp of huge dimensions and permanent character was being established, and that money seemed to be no object. All sorts of rumours were about, hut the one most generally believed was that Holdsworthy Camp, near Sydney, was to he abandoned on account of its liability to disease nnd the pernicious influence of certain disloyal elements which had begun to appear in Sydney. The camp in eight weeks was sufficiently well advanced to accommodate prisoners. No liner camp was built in tire world. There was a watch-tower on a conical hill, and streets of huts ran out fanwise from the tower. The whole place was most elaborately sewered, lighted and supplied with water. The dwellings were models of comfort and sanitation. The surrounding country was very beautiful. But meanwhile there had been shrieks and bellows from the Wilhelmstrnsse. Germany threatened all sorts of reprisals if her beloved children were takenaway to savage Australia. A compromise was effected and the scheme abandoned. The great camp lay empty and idle for three years. It was then sold for a tithe of its cost to the Australian Governent. It is now being demolished and tho valuable building material will presently appear in soldiers’ homes in different parts of the country . »