Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre, Heritage site in Wodonga, Victoria, Australia
Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre is a heritage site in Wodonga, Victoria, spread across roughly 130 hectares of land with preserved buildings, exhibition spaces, and educational facilities. The site shows how people from Europe arrived and received training during their first weeks in Australia.
The center opened in 1947 and processed over 300,000 migrants from Europe until 1971, making it the largest reception facility of post-war Australia. After the war, it became a crucial place where millions of people found new lives in this country.
The center displays personal items, photographs, and documents showing how migrants adapted to life in Australia. These objects tell stories of family, work, and first experiences in a new country.
Visitors can take guided tours, join educational programs, and explore interactive displays about migration patterns and settlement processes. The site is large, so wear comfortable shoes and allow time to walk around and discover different areas.
Around 1.5 million current Australian residents have family members who passed through this center during its 24 years of operation. This makes the site a place where the roots of a large part of the modern population lie.
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