Darley Military Camp

Original Camp Location

Cameron's Road
Bacchus Marsh
Location in Google Maps

Memorial Location

Federation Park,
Bacchus Marsh Gisborne Road,
Bacchus Marsh, VIC 3340
Location in Google Maps

See Also

Darley Military Camp, about eight kilometres north-west of Bacchus Marsh, was a training camp for Australian and Allied Service personnel during the Second World War.

Established in 1940 as one of the AIF training centres the Camp had over 360 buildings including recreation huts, Post Office and 68 bed hospital. The first unit to occupy the camp was the 4000 members of the 4th Infantry Training Brigade. The U.S. Marines, colonial troops from the Dutch East Indies, The Australian Army Medical Women's Service, U.S. Air Corps, the Australian Women's Army Service, The Provost Training School (Military Police) and the School of Army Surveyors all occupied the Camp at different times. Each training unit was under separate command. Training lasted six weeks.

Troops were housed in long straight rows ofcorrigaled iron clad huts. Each man was allotted five feet [1.5m] of space on a wooden floor. The bed was a straw palliasse with three grey army blankets. The kitbag was used as a pillow and the greatcoat served as an extra blanket. The day began at 0600 hours when the Orderly Sergeant burst through the door at one end of the hut and walked through to the other blowing a whistle and shouting. This was followed by roll call at 1)630 and breakfast at 0700. This happened in all seasons. Day ended at 2200 hours when "Fitch'blew 'Lights out' on his bugle. During the day there was instruction in first aid, map reading, military law, writing of Police Reports, Charge Sheets, sections of the Army Act, unarmed combat, pistol shooting, traffic control, aircraft recognition, motorcycle riding and always the parade ground.
(John Goyen, Provost Staff Sergeant, pers. comm.).

The Darley Camp had an impact on the town. The Horse Transport Unit camped at the Railway Station. Military Police had a building on the comer of Gisbome Road and Lerderderg Street. Service clubs set up rest and recreation areas. The RSL Hall was extended and used as a recreation centre. Service personnel on leave attended local dances on Saturday nights.

The buildings were removed after the war, some to Warrnambool to become part of Fletcher Jones' Clothing factory. Concrete foundations of ablution blocks and latrines and the sealed roads of the camp still exist. A plaque on the east side of Cameron's Road marks the area used for the camp.

Information provided by the
Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society