Cowra Prisoner of War Camp

The Cowra Prisoner of War Camp site is listed as one of the top Heritage sites in NSW. In 1944 over 1000 Japanese POW staged a mass breakout that was the biggest in British and Australian War History. 231 Japanese POW lost their lives and 4 Australians also died during the breakout.

Today a walking trail goes through the camp ruins and a scale model of the camp is on display at the Cowra Visitors Centre. Also at the Visitor Information Centre is the POW theatre which is a nine minute presentation telling the story of the breakout from the perspective of a local resident.

Get directions with the interactive map 

Take a look with the interactive viewer

POW CAMP

For detailed information about the POW camp and breakout compiled by NSW Heritage and Australian National Heritage, download this PDF: Cowra POW Camp Information

Navigate through the links on the left hand side for additional information on the POW camp and breakout, including a list of Soldiers and Guards at the Cowra Camp, Japanese Prisoners of War and Internees who were at Cowra, Hay and other camps in Australia. 

You can scroll these lists and search for a name alphabetically and if you wish you can then go to the National Archives of Australia link and type the name and by actioning the Search button on that page, you may be able to find a personal record card for that person. Unfortunately at this stage internet based records are not available for Australian soldiers. If you want to obtain a copy of their record, click here and search as a Guest.

If you have a relative or friend that you think was at the Cowra POW Camp, either as a guard or a POW, please send us their details. Send email to council@cowra.nsw.gov.au or mail to the General Manager, Cowra Shire Council, Private Bag 342 Cowra, 2794. We will review the details and if correct we will update the list.