Marrinup Pow No 16 - WA

Number 16 POW Compound and Garrison operated during the second world war from July 1943-August 1946.
The area is now declared a protected site under the WA Heritage Act and entered onto the Register of the National Estate but has been established as a recognized tourist destination. Visitors can enjoy exploring a 4.5 km loop trail with many ruins, foundations, and artefacts. An excellent signboard is position at the entrance however there is limited signage throughout the walk.

This camp was setup to provide farm labour and cut firewood for Perth but was also the administrative center for all POW activities in WA and reception center for new arrivals into WA from overseas or No 13 POW Camp, Victoria.

The camp could accommodate 1200 men, including Army personnel and thousands of prisoners passed through its gates, mostly Italians or Germans. The Camp was basically a transit stop for workers on the way to farms or rural control centres. Prisoners only stayed for long periods for medical or disciplinary reasons. When the war ended, the POW’s were to be sent home but some wanted to stay in Australia to avoid returning to war-devastated Europe. While their employers supported them, they had to return home before they could apply to immigrate by sponsorship.Thirty men escaped and remained in WA after the final shipload of POW’s left Fremantle in December 1946.