About Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre
The Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre, now presented as the Bonegilla Migrant Experience, is a heritage site at Bonegilla near Wodonga in north-east Victoria. Operating from 1947 to 1971 in a former Army camp, it was Australia's largest and longest-running migrant reception centre, temporarily housing over 300,000 post-war migrants. Preserved huts, exhibitions and memorials interpret the migrant journey and settlement process.
Visitors guide
Visitors can explore a preserved section of the former Army camp with original weatherboard huts, reconstructed interiors, exhibitions, photographs and personal stories. The site includes a visitor centre with displays, outdoor memorials, landscaped grounds and interpretive signage. Guided tours lead through accommodation blocks and communal areas illustrating arrival, processing and daily life for migrants.
Key highlights
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Australia's largest and longest-operating post-war migrant reception centre (1947-1971)
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Preserved original huts with period-furnished interiors and exhibitions
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Visitor centre with photographs, documents and personal migrant stories
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Guided tours interpreting arrival and settlement experiences
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Memorial walls and outdoor heritage trail