The German War Cemetery, Tatura, is historically significant as the first foreign war cemetery to be established in Australia and as one of five war cemeteries established by the Australian War Graves Commission in Victoria after the end of World War II. It provided for the reburial of German internees and Prisoners of War who died whilst detained in Australia during World War I and II. Bodies were exhumed from cemeteries throughout Australia and reinterred at this cemetery which is located in close proximity to the largest group of World War II internment camps constructed in Australia.
It contains the graves of 191 World War I and 59 World War II internees, including 11 Prisoners of War. Headstones and plaques are arranged in rows around the perimeter, with the original World War II section located at the front and the World War I section located at the rear. Each grave is marked by a bronze plaque with the deceased's name and date of death, the Iron Cross signifying the grave of a Prisoner of War and the Latin Cross that of a civilian internee. It is the only war cemetery in Australia dedicated to German civilians and Prisoners of War.
Hours
Closed now
Daily: 08:00–18:30
Facilities and visitor features
4 features
Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
Caters for people who use a wheelchair.
Lawn / Gardens
Caters for people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
Tatura is on the land of Yorta Yorta traditional owners.
This yard was established in 1876. It is a large well kept yard on flat land, with graded paths, so it will not present much difficulty for people with limited mobility. Parking is on the street out front and available inside the yard. There is seating, shade, rubbish bins, water and toilet facilities. Historical graves are well kept and readable, it looks like they have been cleaned recently. The cemetery is still in use today, with a lawn section for cremated remains.
Next to the general cemetery is a separate section designated the Tatura German War Cemetery. There is a Heritage Council notice that says it was the first foreign war cemetery in Australia. It was officially consecrated in 1958 and contains the remains of 250 Germans who died in Australia during the two 'world wars'. There are 239 civilian internees who were detained in camps for being German, and 11 prisoners of war. Remains were brought from other cemeteries around the country to be reburied here.
Peter McQuinney
Google review
I stumbled onto this cemetery while visiting a colleague nearby.
I never knew we had German prisoners of war in Australia, only Italian POW's.
The cemetery is wholly devoted to German prisoners of war and German internees, Australians of German decent, over the periods covering World War One and World War Two.
Its next to the Tatura Cemetery.
There is not much information there and I only discovered the internee aspect by checking Google prior to writing this review.
It appears to be well maintained, I take it by local.
There are a number of plaques and information boards around, but only offering basic information.
There is pedestrian access only, there is car parking and toilets in the Tatura Cemetery next door, a 50m walk.
A
Google review
Extremely well maintained cemetery, especially the German War Cemetery.
roadie killor
Google review
the war cemetery is nice. Tatura cemetery is large for the size of the town and easy to find
Ricky Manoel
Google review
Nice, very week maintained cemetery with some fascinating history.