The troops were to be used as a strategic reserve in the event
of a
Japanese invasion in the Westernport region. When the likelihood of such
an event passed, the soldiers were moved out.
1942
In September, Australian soldiers were
replaced by American troops.
1942
Construction of the facility was assisted,
on Sundays, by volunteer workers, carpenters, and tradespersons from the YMCA Red Shield organization.
Access
to the site was from several entrances along Wellington and Stud Rds. Security was reported to be lax, and POWs were
not permitted to venture past the Dandenong Creek.
1944
When the Americans went off
to the
Pacific war zones their places in the camp were taken by
Italian Prisoners of War who had been captured in North Africa.
1945
By
June, the number of prisoners had grown to about three hundred and the
role of the camp was changing to that of a staging camp. This meant that
all Italian prisoners being moved from camp to camp or on to farms as
labourers were processed in Rowville. A total of two thousand six
hundred prisoners passed through the Rowville camp.
1946
The last
of the prisoners were repatriated to Italy.
1947
January - public
tenders were called for the dismantling and removal of all above-ground infrastructure. Some of the POW huts were relocated
to the Churchill National Park for use as hostel accommodation.
1947
Regular
motor cycle races were held on the site until 1949 - attendances of 3000 were reported.
1947
An
extensive and wide-ranging Commission of Enquiry took place into the management of the facility, associated with
the health and well-being of the POWs.
1950
The Rowville Terminal Power Station was built on the northern section of the site. The southern section
was associated with residential development.
Present
day
Remains of the camp consist of fourteen concrete building foundations, a 24,000
gallon steel storage tank foundation and a concrete culvert. These artefacts are within the Power Station property.
