War history signs interpreting the Cowra POW Camp and Japanese breakout in WW2 are the primary method of delivering this extraordinary story to visitors. Cowra is the site of the breakout by Japanese prisoners from the No 12 POW Camp in 1944 … the largest prisoner of war breakout in modern military history. 231 Japanese prisoners died during the escape attempt. Four Australian soldiers also died.
In addition, there is an audio option at the rebuilt guard tower and engaging hologram story at the Visitor Centre.
War history signs
- Cowra Council
- August 2013 – July 2014
- Interpretive planning, shelter design (Architect, Steve Gorrell), research, identify themes, write content, design WWII history signs, mapping, installation design, image sourcing, and project manage production
- Over 30 signs in total
– Viewing Platform – 4 large interpretive signs covering the main nationalities involved – Australians, Japanese, Italians and Indonesians
– Viewing Platform – 2 smaller signs, one with Japanese text and the other as a tribute to the four Australians who died during the breakout
– Arrival Area – overview of WW2 in relation to Cowra – 2 signs “War” and “Peace”
– Camp Ruins – 13 interpretive signs revealing human interest stories of the POWs and guards
– Wayfinding – a linking walk from the Japanese Gardens to the POW Camp – 6 signs
– Blades – at the entrance to the POW Camp – upright panels fixed to CORten steel
Interpretive planning
Preliminary designs were submitted with the draft interpretation plan, including a style guide, construction options, other interpretive elements and indicative pricing within 3 weeks of being appointed as the successful tenderer.
Blank canvas
All the timber buildings were removed at the time the camp was closed in March 1947. All that remains in the area are concrete and brick foundations plus a ‘Stone Hut’. The Cowra POW Camp site exists within a landscape that remains essentially the way it was during WW2. It is the site of the only land engagement on the Australian mainland during WW2. The camp housed prisoners and internees from many countries; Japanese, Chinese (Formosan), Korean, Italian, Indonesian, Albanian and small numbers of other ethnic groups.
Interpretive signage design elements
In addition to creating preliminary sign concepts, we also developed a style palette for ongoing use. A feature of the designs for this project was colour coding the interpretive material by nationality. There are four major groups represented at the POW Camp and the ruins are spread out over a large area. Group visits by nationality are common, especially by Japanese and Italians. This approach allows visitors to identify their own stories (in the vast area of the camp ruins) simply by colour.
Green – Australia
Red – Japanese
Yellow – Italian
Blue – Indonesian
The grey background colour was drawn from the surrounding granite outcrops. An old style ‘grunge’ font was used to reflect the mood of war. Industrial materials (CORten) have been used for the bases of the signs to further reinforce the harshness of war. A haiku poem in calligraphy marks the base of two Japanese panels. It reflects the loss of life and the ethereal nature of the soul.
Several manufacturing options, styles and pricing estimates were provided and discussed with Council and stakeholders before final selection.
Viewing platform
The viewing platform contains 4 large war history signs (1500mm wide x 900mm high) covering the main nationalities involved – Australians, Japanese, Italians and Indonesians – and 2 smaller signs, one with Japanese text and the other as a tribute to the four Australians who died during the breakout. These shelter signs had legs rather than a solid base to allow more visibility to the view of the POW Camp and surrounding area.
Arrival area
WWII history signs in the arrival area are timeline and map based. This arrival area give visitors an overview of WWII in relation to Cowra (2 signs “War” and “Peace”) and an orientation map of POW Camp today. This map is orientated to match the direction the visitor is facing when viewing the POW Camp. Cowra Council planted a delineating fence around the perimeter of the camp, increased visitor facilities and access, and beautified wherever they could.
Visitors connect with the stories as they walk through the historic locations of the POW campsite and Garrison area.
Wayfinding blades
Blades were used at the entrance to the POW Camp (upright panels fixed to CORten steel) to provide easy identification of the site and a welcome to visitors. In addition, 6 x large foldback wayfinding signs (1000mm wide x 600mm high) guide visitors from the original Garrison Gates (near the Cowra Japanese Gardens) to the POW Camp along the original Garrison Road.
Camp ruins and interpretive writing
We strive to find personal stories and weave them into the main theme often using imagery to help. There are 13 signs with stories and they communicate the following:
- The site is a place of remembrance, reflection and respect
- Historically sound information, reflecting the events and values of the time
- The Camp accommodated different ethnic groups between 1941 and 1947
- The site of the Japanese breakout
