The display will be launched on Anzac Day and run for three months at the Mundaring District Museum.
“Thousands of troops were railed to Western Australia from New South Wales and Victoria and camped at Chidlow after the Japanese entered the war. Between 1942 and 1944 the 2nd and 4th Australian Infantry Divisions and the 1st Armoured Division were based in Western Australia to defend against an anticipated Japanese landing. One of the AIF units that Prime Minister John Curtin had recalled from the Middle East, the Western Australian 2/11th battalion, was also camped at the Chidlow camps prior to embarking for the Island campaigns” said Museum Curator Mr Paul Bridges.
To honour those who served, the Mundaring & Hills Historical Society has produced an exhibition on local units and those stationed in the Mundaring District during WWII.
The Historical Society is particularly interested in obtaining photographs and reminiscences of life in the Chidlow camps as this also has important future tourist potential for the Shire. With the increased interest in family history and the large numbers of post war baby boomers soon to retire it is anticipated that many eastern states based tourists will be interested in where their fathers served during WWII.
“We need to protect, conserve and interpret what remains of these camps and the role they played in the defence of Western Australia. The numbers of troops sent to WA puts the lie to the often quoted ‘Brisbane Line’ theory that Western Australia was to be abandoned if the Japanese invaded Australia.” Mr Bridges said
The Mundaring District Museum is located at 7225 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring (see map)
Opens in conjunction with Mundaring Visitor Centre
Monday - Saturday 9.30am to 4pm
Sundays and Public Holidays 10.30am to 2.30pm
Mundaring District Museum Curator Paul Bridges contact details 9298 8944 or paul@mhhs.org.au on Monday, Wednesday & Friday between 9am-4pm