World War II reshaped nations, economies, and countless individual lives. One remarkable story from that era is how Italian prisoners of war (POWs) — captured in North Africa — were sent to work on farms and rural properties across Australia, helping sustain food production during a critical period.
From Battlefields of North Africa to the Australian Outback
Between 1940 and 1943, Allied forces engaged Italian troops across the deserts of North Africa. Following defeats in Libya, Egypt, and the decisive Battle of El Alamein, thousands of Italian soldiers were captured. Many were initially held in British-run camps in the Middle East or British India, where overcrowding and harsh conditions were common.
From 1941 onwards, Australia agreed to accept transfers of Italian POWs to help with its own wartime labour needs. In India, prisoners were asked to step forward if they were willing to be sent to Australia - a move that offered somewhat better conditions and the chance to work on farms, though they would remain POWs under military supervision. Once in Australia, POWs were housed in camps such as Hay in New South Wales and Loveday in South Australia before being assigned to labour detachments and farm placements as the government expanded agricultural work programs.
Why They Worked on Australian Farms
By 1943, Australia’s rural workforce was severely depleted at a time when food production was critical to both domestic supply and Allied demands. With more than 500,000 Australians were serving in uniform, the Australian War Cabinet approved a policy allowing Italian POWs to be employed in agricultural work. Italian POWs were assigned to farms under controlled conditions, providing a practical response to labour shortages. Comparable arrangements operated in other Allied countries, including Britain, Canada and New Zealand, where POW labour was also directed toward essential food production.
Despite language barriers and initial cultural unease, many prisoners adapted quickly and became valued contributors to the agricultural effort.
Numbers and Scope of the Work Scheme
Over the course of the war, Australia held roughly 18,000 Italian POWs. By late 1944, around 14,000 were cleared and available for labour assignments, with about 12,000 actively working on farms and in rural labour detachments. In South Australia alone, approximately 4,500–5,000 POWs were based at Loveday, many of whom were sent to farms in the Riverland, Murraylands, the Clare Valley and surrounding districts. The program provided essential labour to maintain Australia’s food supply, supporting crops such as wheat, tobacco, fruit and vegetables, as well as dairy and livestock operations.
Life on the Farms
Farm placements offered POWs a measure of freedom and a daily routine that contrasted sharply with crowded internment camps. Many prisoners lived with host families, received a modest allowance, and worked six-day weeks. On Sundays, they were often permitted to attend church or take short walks beyond the farm.
Over time, some POWs developed genuine friendships with their hosts — exchanging gifts, maintaining correspondence after the war, and in a few notable cases, even marrying into local families. However, not all experiences were positive: some prisoners faced strict discipline, cultural misunderstandings, or tension with local communities. Overall, these placements left a lasting impact both on the POWs themselves and on the postwar Italian-Australian communities that grew from these connections.
After the War: Repatriation and Legacy
With the war’s end in 1945 and Italy’s armistice with the Allies, Italian POWs were gradually repatriated in accordance with the Geneva Convention. Transport limitations meant that many remained in Australia until 1946 or 1947. For those who had formed strong connections with host families, the experience often influenced later decisions to return to Australia as immigrants. These individuals helped expand the postwar Italian-Australian community and contributed to Australia’s cultural and social life, preserving bonds that had been forged under extraordinary circumstances.
Why This Story Matters
The tale of Italian POWs in Australia reminds us that wartime history is not only about battles and conflict zones. It is also about adaptation, labour, and human connection under extraordinary circumstances. The contributions of these prisoners helped sustain Australia’s food production during a critical period, while the relationships they built left a lasting mark on communities and shaped the postwar social fabric of the nation. Their story stands as a lasting reminder of the importance of humanity, even in the most unlikely of places.
Photograph: “These are some of a big batch of Italian prisoners captured in North Africa and landed in Sydney today. May 26, 1941”STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER (https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/from-the-archives-1941-italian-pows-arrive-20210521-p57u13.html)
Further Reading:
-
O’Connor, Desmond (2003). From Tobruk to Clare: the experiences of the Italian prisoner of war Luigi Bortolotti 1941–1946. y Languages Group Online Review, Vol. 1, Issue 3, Flinders University, Adelaide. Read online.
-
Australian War Memorial. “Italian Prisoners of War in Australia.” AWM website
-
ABC News (Australia). ABC News.
-
Anzac Portal / Australian WWII Resources. Anzac Portal.
