Heritage
The Anvil Creek site, located near the village of Greta, still holds many important remains of its past history and significance as an Army and Migrant camp and the development will respect the heritage values.
A ‘Conservation Management Plan’, that identifies the significance of the Army and Migrant Camp and the site’s prior history, has been completed to evaluate the historic, aesthetic, technical and social importance of remains at Anvil Creek, many of which are to be protected or interpreted.
Indigenous Heritage
The longest association with the site is by the local Mindaribba and Wonnarua Aboriginal tribes. Members of these communities were part of the archaeological survey of the site. There is evidence of their association with this land to be found predominantly in Anvil Creek itself and its waters. The association of these communities with the land will form part of the historical and heritage interpretation of the site.
Mining and Pastoral Activities
After European settlement, the lands were used for pastoral activities, and the nearby township of Greta was established to support coal mining which was the dominant activity in the area from the late 1800's until the 1950's. There was an Anvil Creek Colliery nearby between the years 1864-71.
The Army Names
One of the most significant periods of the site’s European history began in October 1939 when the site was bought by the Department of Defence. It became one of the biggest army training camps in Australia housing up to 6000 men at any one time and more than 60,000 trainees overall. On the eastern side of the site the army established brown coloured, wooden camp buildings which the men named ‘Chocolate City’ and on the northern side they built corrugated iron Nissen huts in an area that became known as 'Silver City'. They also uniquely and carefully landscaped the site, an activity not found in comparative camps elsewhere in Australia.
Migrant Stories
Between 1949 and 1960, the Greta camp became the second biggest ‘holding Centre for Migrants’ in Australia and was the first with facilities for families. In 1949, Greta No 1 and 2, held 5000 and 6000 beds respectively. Tent City, created to hold additional displaced persons after the war, was completed by 1950. The Migrant Camp closed in 1960, after having been the first home to over 100,000 migrants coming to make a new life in Australia.
Interpretation of the Heritage on the site
The Heritage Assessment report identifies four themes of heritage significance for this site: Migration, Defence, Pastoralism and Convict. It identifies what evidence of these themes has significant value, what should be protected and what can be interpreted in any new development.
A major initiative of the development will be the way in which the post war Migrant History is celebrated. The development proposes to create a focus for gatherings, a publicly accessible park with a large interpretive exhibition, and a walking trail that will mark and interpret important elements of both the indigenous and European heritage on the site.
An element of exceptional significance is the main road layout that still exists on the site. This shows the layout of 'Chocolate City' and 'Silver City' and how they were linked on the site. The masterplan for the development proposes to retain and interpret this layout.
Other remaining elements on site include the pistol range, the unique landscaping by the army, the former hospital site and the Oval with its perimeter planting.
It is rare to find a site with such a rich past and with the opportunity to link people who lived there and the activities that happened there into any future development. The former Greta Army and Migrant Camp is one such site. Its heritage values are detailed in the Heritage Impact Statement and the development proposal seeks to respect, incorporate and interpret those values.
