Cowra New South Wales

Japanese POW and ANZAC Cemetery 

We went to Cowra as part of a seven-day road trip from the NSW Hunter Valley to Melbourne. The first place we visited in Cowra was the Japanese and ANZAC cemeteries.   A very peaceful place on the outskirts of Cowra, over 200 Japanese prisoners are buried here, most of them from the breakout late in World War 2.  There is also a section nearby for the Allied servicemen who died in the area.

Cowra Prisoner of War Camp

Not far from the cemetery are the remains of the Prisoner of War camp.  There is a replica guard tower and a covered area with descriptions of the camp and explanations of the breakout.  There is also a memorial to the Italian prisoners who died while held there.  As most of the publicity is about the Japanese, we were not aware of the other nationalities incarcerated there.  There is very little of the actual camp remaining.  Mostly concrete blocks.  The information provided there however, helps set out the environment of the camp and the actions taken during the breakout.

Tourist Information Office

There is a very nice Tourist Information Office in the centre of town.  As well as looking at the supply of brochures to see what else was on in Cowra, we spoke to the friendly woman behind the desk.  She told us that the Archibald Prize paintings were on display at the local art gallery.  This was conveniently located opposite the Peace Bell which we also wanted to see.

Entry to the gallery was by donation, which is very reasonable.  Unfortunately, photography was not allowed, but we spent some time admiring the art work.  Not being experts in art, we only spent about 15 minutes.

Peace Bell

The Peace Bell is located across the road from the gallery in Civic Square.  You can walk up to the pavilion it is housed in it and ring the bell.  A replica of the one in the forecourt of the United Nations, it is the only one in the world not located in a city.