Our Wartime Legacy in Cowra, Australia

The Cowra Breakout - Visit Cowra

Cowra is steeped in rich history and heritage, from the thorn grounds of the Cowra POW Camp and War Cemeteries, to the uplifting significance of Australia's World Peace Bell.

The Cowra Breakout

At 1:50 AM on the 5th of August 1944, over 1000 Japanese prisoners launched a mass escape from the Cowra Prisoner of War Camp. It was the largest prisoner of war outbreak in modern military history. 234 Japanese prisoners and five Australian soldiers lost their lives. From this violent beginning, both a journey of reconciliation and a growing friendship have developed between the people of Cowra and the nation of Japan.

Prisoner of War Campsite

The ruins of the Prisoner of War Campsite are still visible to this day, well placed interpretive signage will help you visualise what once stood in this picturesque part of Cowra. Stand under the replica guard tower where a detailed audio presentation will bring the scenery around you to life. Take a stroll down the paths throughout the site to the five-panel commemorative sculpture. Walk or cycle through the Garrison Walk, taking you straight into the beautiful Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre.

War Cemeteries

Cowra Japanese War Cemetery - Visit Cowra

The Cowra Japanese War Cemetery contains the graves of the 234 Japanese soldiers who were killed in the Cowra Breakout as well as all the Japanese Nationals who died on Australia soil during World War Two. This is the only Japanese War Cemetery outside of Japan. The Australian War Cemetery adjoins the Japanese War Cemetery and contains graves of the servicemen who died at the Cowra Military Training Camp, as well as the five Australian soldiers killed during the 1944 breakout.

Indonesian Graves

Whilst the story of the Cowra Breakout is relatively well known, it is a little known fact that 1,200 Indonesian internees were held at the Cowra POW camp during World War Two. Two groups were brought to the POW Camp, the first being merchant navy sailors, the second being nationalists who had been exiled to what is now Irian Jaya (Dutch New Guinea) after they had been involved in the 1926 uprising.

The Dutch Government thought that the Nationalists would link up with the invading Japanese forces and were able to convince the Australian government to ship the men, women and children to Australia (Cowra) for internment.

The Indonesian Memorial is made up of the graves of 13 Indonesian political detainees who died in the Cowra POW camp while being held on behalf of the Dutch East Indies Government in the early years of World War Two.

In 1997 the Indonesian Government erected a memorial to these people in the General Section of the Cowra Cemetery. It was through Jan Lingard from the School of Asian Studies at the University of Sydney that this hidden story was revealed.

Australia's World Peace Bell

Australia's World Peace Bell - Visit Cowra

Made from melted down coins donated by 106 member countries of the United Nations, Australia's World Peace Bell is a testament to Cowra’s longstanding contribution to world peace and international understanding. Recognized by the World Peace Bell Association in 1992, the bill is proudly housed in Cowra Civic Square where visitors can read the interpretive signage, listen to the audio presentation and even ring the bell itself.

Europa Park

From 1940 to 1945, the Cowra Military Training Camp trained some 80,000 military personnel. In 1949 the site became the Cowra Migrant Camp and was the home to about 17,000 European migrants until 1955. Up to 4,000 immigrants could be housed at the camp at one time with as many as 27 nations represented among those who live there. An estimated total of between 17,000 and 19,000 people passed through the gates of the camp throughout its time of operation.

Europa Park - Visit Cowra

The camp itself was run like a small town, boasting its own post office, school, canteen and chapel. Many of the men were sent away to work on neighbouring towns for projects such as the railway construction in Orange, constructing dams and working at the Edgell Cannery.

Interpretive signage and a memorial have been erected in honour of the migrant families of Cowra in Europa Park.

*Source: Cowra Visitor Information Centre

Address: Corner of Mid Western Highway, Young Road and Boorowa Road, Cowra

Phone: 02 6342 4333
Fax: 02 6342 4563

Email: info@cowratourism.com.au