How a remote Australian river town became a wartime sanctuary for European refugees

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Deep in the arid plains of New South Wales, the town of Hay transformed from a bustling river port into a high-security internment site. Today, it preserves the complex legacy of the Dunera Boys, a group of refugees whose arrival forever altered Australia's cultural and intellectual landscape.

Originally known as Lang's Crossing-place, Hay emerged in the mid-1850s as a vital transit point for stock and river steamers on the Murrumbidgee River. By the late 19th century, it had become a thriving hub for wool transport, bolstered by the arrival of the railway from Sydney in 1882. The town's strategic isolation, however, eventually dictated a different role during the 20th century. In 1940, the Australian government constructed three high-security camps to house internees, including over two thousand refugees from Nazi Germany and Austria who had been transported from Britain aboard the HMT Dunera.

The internment of these refugees, many of whom were Jewish, marked a significant turning point in Australian history. Despite the harsh conditions of their confinement, many of the men, later known as the Dunera Boys, chose to remain in Australia after their release. Their subsequent contributions to the nation's scientific, business, and cultural sectors were profound. The town now commemorates this history through the Dunera Museum, housed in restored railway carriages, and an annual event that invites survivors to return to the site of their former imprisonment.

Beyond its wartime history, Hay remains a critical agricultural center on the Riverine Plain. While the region was once dominated by saltbush shrublands, it has evolved into a productive landscape for wool, sheep meat, and irrigated crops like rice, lettuce, and broccoli. The town's geography, characterized by the Murrumbidgee River and its surrounding clay plains, continues to define its identity. Today, Hay serves as a testament to the resilience of both its local community and the diverse groups who have shaped its development over the past 160 years.

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