Greta Army Camp
Encyclopedia
Greta Army Camp was an Australian army
camp built in 1939 near Greta, New South Wales
, Australia. It was used for training soldiers of the Second AIF (2AIF) during World War II
. The Australian army sold the site at auction in 1980.
In November 1939, 2930 acres (11.9 km²) of land was compulsorily acquired in the Allendale-Greta area to create one of the Australian Army's largest training camps. Built for the training of the 6th Division of the 2AIF because the existing Australian army facilities were occupied by Citizens Military Force
units.
The 2/11th Battalion
arrived at the camp on 15 December 1939 and were later joined by the 2/10th Battalion
. The camp facilities were expanded during the war, with two parts of the camp known as "Chocolate City", due to the brown-coloured oiled timber weatherboard buildings in that part of the camp and "Silver City", due to corrugated iron Nissen hut
s built in that part of the camp. Citizens Military Force units were also trained at the camp, with up to 60,000 Australian soldiers trained during World War II.
After the war, much of the field training areas were returned to grazing purposes, however the camp was required for the training of troops preparing to join the occupation forces in Japan. In 1949, Greta Camp was transferred to the Department of Immigration and until 1960 it was used as a migrant camp for European migrants with over 100,000 immigrants passing through the centre. The Army resumed control of the camp in 1962 and, after being used intermittently for training exercises. It was sold at auction by the Australian army in 1980.
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
camp built in 1939 near Greta, New South Wales
Greta, New South Wales
Greta is a small town in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia in Cessnock City Council. It has a population of around 1000 people. It is largely a commuter town located midway between Cessnock, Singleton and Maitland...
, Australia. It was used for training soldiers of the Second AIF (2AIF) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Australian army sold the site at auction in 1980.
In November 1939, 2930 acres (11.9 km²) of land was compulsorily acquired in the Allendale-Greta area to create one of the Australian Army's largest training camps. Built for the training of the 6th Division of the 2AIF because the existing Australian army facilities were occupied by Citizens Military Force
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
units.
The 2/11th Battalion
2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion
The 2/11th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army which saw service during World War II. Raised at Northam, Western Australia on 13 October 1939, it formed part of the 6th Australian Division of the Second Australian Imperial Force...
arrived at the camp on 15 December 1939 and were later joined by the 2/10th Battalion
2/10th Australian Infantry Battalion
The 2/10th Battalion was a battalion of the Australian Army was raised at Wayville Showgrounds, Adelaide, on 13 October 1939, as part of the 18th Brigade of the 6th Australian Division for World War II...
. The camp facilities were expanded during the war, with two parts of the camp known as "Chocolate City", due to the brown-coloured oiled timber weatherboard buildings in that part of the camp and "Silver City", due to corrugated iron Nissen hut
Nissen hut
A Nissen hut is a prefabricated steel structure made from a half-cylindrical skin of corrugated steel, a variant of which was used extensively during World War II.-Description:...
s built in that part of the camp. Citizens Military Force units were also trained at the camp, with up to 60,000 Australian soldiers trained during World War II.
After the war, much of the field training areas were returned to grazing purposes, however the camp was required for the training of troops preparing to join the occupation forces in Japan. In 1949, Greta Camp was transferred to the Department of Immigration and until 1960 it was used as a migrant camp for European migrants with over 100,000 immigrants passing through the centre. The Army resumed control of the camp in 1962 and, after being used intermittently for training exercises. It was sold at auction by the Australian army in 1980.