When the Commonwealth Government assented to the War Precautions Act in 1914, people of German origin or descent, as well as those from countries allied with Germany, were deemed a national security risk and detained. Deprived of their freedom and with limited family visits, the camp men cleared land, constructed roads and worked on the railway, as well as building community enterprises such as shops, cafes, theatre groups and orchestras. Some spent as long as six years in the camp where they faced deportation and an influenza epidemic. What they made of life during their internment says a lot about their spirit.
