Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum

A time capsule preserving the history of the Internment Camps in the Tatura area, particularly of my Templer forebears.

It underpins many of the stories behind the graves at the nearby Tatura German Military Cemetery.

This is a fabulous museum show casing the local area. It is full of artifacts and knowledge. The video about the war camps was fascinating. The volunteer staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Well worth a visit.

Simply amazing. The existence of internment camps during both world wars is a part of Australian history that is largely unknown. The people interned in these camps demonstrated remarkable resilience and ingenuity. The astonishing collection of artefacts, crafts and artworks attest to this. Our visit was a revelation. The staff here are fabulously knowledgeable and generous. Don't miss it if you're travelling to Shepparton.

An amazing collection of memorabilia, including photos, paintings and artifacts from a little known period in Australian WW2 history. Make sure you see the video presentation before you walk through as this gives excellent background information.
Entry cost is minimal ($5 adult) and you could easily spend a couple of hours checking it all out.
There are also interesting exhibits about the local irrigation systems and local families of the area.

Excellent, volunteer run museum of a hidden part of Victoria's history.
Great video, well worth watching, and great displays. Friendly staff.

A most interesting museum, full of well displayed information and memorabilia from the internment camps. Take time to watch the excellent video first. Volunteer George was most helpful and went out of his way to show me documents relating to my father.

Good COVID-19 protocols. Very friendly and helpful staff. Interesting film about internees during World War 2. Many interesting exhibits about occupants of the Camps during the war and afterwards. Enjoyed our visit.

Fantastic small museum highlighting the history of the area, both settlement days and ww2.
Worth the visit if your interested area.

I Did not know so many people were held in Tatura area. Interesting stories of thr later good immigrants.

Fantastic place to visit. It took me over an hour to see it all and enjoyed every minuit of it. If you are in Tatura please give it a go.

This place is amazing. We took a tour group and found the staff very knowledgeable and friendly. Saw an amazing range of items. Fascinating. I recommend you visit this place its quite an eye opener

Tatura Museum houses a unique collection based on 3 main themes which are: the History of Irrigation in Victoria's Goulburn Valley, the Local and Family History of Tatura and District since white settlement and the history of the seven World War 2 Prisoner of War and Internment Camps and the Garrison and Hospital which were established in this area.
Tatura Museum is not the average small town museum. Our collection includes ONLY items which have a connection to Tatura.
Whether it is Local, Family, Irrigation or War Time Camps history every article on display has a direct connection with Tatura and is not just part of a general historical display.
The collection and our reference library are a valuable source of research material for academics, school children, relatives and former residents.entry sign to Tatura
Currently we are researching the migrant camp which was situated near Rushworth.
This camp was converted from a POW camp to a Commonwealth Immigration Camp after the end of WW2 and was used as a migrant camp until 1953.
We have a great deal of information about the war time internment camps but little is known about the time the camp was used as a migrant hostel.
We would very much like any information, personal stories or photos with which we can piece together this important episode in our local history.
If you can help please contact the museum using the details on our "Contact Us" page

Collections

Photographs, art and craft work, records, recollections and other archival material recovered from the former Prisoners of War and Internees in the Tatura Area during WW2, many of whom remained in Australia after their release.
These include the collection of 54 works of Leonhard Adam completed over a 50 year period and donated by his daughter Mary-Clare Murvitz of Israel and a collection of war time sketches by Georg Rosenkranz.
We have many artefacts and documents relating to the HSK Kormoran and HMAS Sydney as the Kormoran survivors were prisoners of war in Tatura.
Books, records, maps, photographs and information on the history of Irrigation in Victoria's Goulburn Valley.
Books, photographs, memorabilia, maps and recollections regarding the Local History of Tatura and District including major industries and local families.

Very informative and helpful friendly staff made a great visit for myself and my 7 year old son who the volunteers activily engage with. Great little museum with great local history.

We went there because of our family that were in the camp in the Second World War, though we are not Japanese. (I know, it's not fair) But overall it was amazing to see so much records and information about the things in the camp.