'Enemy aliens' in Australia during the world wars

Cover of An Illustrated Diary of Australian Internment by Edmond Samuels
Cover of An Illustrated Diary of Australian Internment by Edmond Samuels
NAA: A1336, 7597

During World War I and World War II the Australian Government established internment camps across the country. These camps accommodated men, women and children classed as 'enemy aliens' and considered a threat to Australia's security during wartime.

The National Archives holds records about these camps, their development and administration, as well as about the government policy that established them. Our collection also includes records about the people who spent the war years in internment.

The following pages give a brief description of the main internment camps in Australia for both World War I and World War II and examples of the Archives' records about the camps.

Resources on wartime internment in Australia

Visit the Uncommon Lives website feature on internee Wolf Klaphake, a German scientist and inventor who emigrated from Germany in 1935. The website traces the story of his four-year detention in Australian internment camps during World War II.

Read more about National Archives records on aliens, internees and prisoners of war in the following Fact Sheets:

More information is in our guide to family history research in the National Archives, Finding Families, available in the Archives' online shop.

The Australian War Memorial's collection includes many photographs of internment camps and internees during both World War I and World War II. Many of the photographs used on these webpages have been kindly provided by the War Memorial. You can search for more photographs and find out how to obtain copies through their Online Shop & Photo Sales.

Internment of Australians overseas

During World War II, hundreds of Australian civilian nationals were interned overseas by the Japanese. The National Archives holds extensive records relating to their internment in the Asia–Pacific region and the Australian Government's response. Dr Christina Twomey, co-winner of the Margaret George Award in 2004, used these records to research the experiences of these internees.