Loveday was one of Australia's largest WWII internment camps

A small Riverland town, Loveday was proclaimed in 1940 and was the site of one of Australia's largest internment camps during World War 2. The camp was built to house German, Italian and Japanese internees and prisoners of war. At its peak, the camp held 5380 as well as over 1500 Australian Military Personnel. The camps supplied a variety of products including morphine, which was made for the forces from the harvested opium poppies grown in the camp grounds.

Loveday Internment Camp (Camp 9)

This camp was set up in 1941 and was one of the largest in Australia. It covered approximately 180 hectares of cultivated land and held 5380 internees and POWs at its peak and over 1500 AMF personnel. Loveday was selected as a suitable site because it was piped for irrigation; it was near a highway linking major cities; electricity and telephone communications were available; a train service form Adelaide ran near the camp and it was sufficiently far enough inland away from the seaboard. Open 24 hours and free.

Contact the Barmera Visitor Information Centre for more information.

4WD Adventure

Want to try some 4 wheel driving in the Riverland? Experience the 4x4 Adventure Park at Loveday.

Loveday 4x4 Adventures is a privately owned 4x4 adventure park only 2 hours east of Adelaide and 2 hours west of Mildura. Loveday 4x4 Adventure park has everything from the quiet relaxing river camping, through to hardcore 4x4 driving. Bring the family along with the family dog or just a group of mates. Everything, every day for everyone.

They have 5 tours to choose from:

• 4x4 Day Trip (self drive)
• Camping Trip (self drive)
• Extreme 4wd Tour
• Extreme 4wd Night Tour
• Extreme Adrenalin 4wd Tour