Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that this website may contain images and voices of deceased persons.

Military and home defence

Cockburn's coastline was a place for both military training and military defence during the Second World War, with a major training camp at Naval Base and several searchlight and anti-aircraft batteries located along the shore and the lake chains. Many civilans, both men and women, volunteered for defence service in the Cockburn district during the war and served with integrity.

Others were less lucky, and many Italian migrants who had lived for years in Fremantle and Cockburn were interned as 'enemy aliens' when Italy entered the war against the Allies. This had a significant impact on the work of market gardening in Western Australia, and a long-lasting effect on the interned men and their families.

Contact

Address

City of Cockburn
Whadjuk Boodja
9 Coleville Crescent,
Spearwood 6163

Po Box 1215, Bibra Lake DC,
Western Australia, 6965

Visit the City of Cockburn homepage

Cockburn Nyungar moort Beeliar boodja-k kaadadjiny. Koora, yeyi, benang baalap nidja boodja-k kaaradjiny.
Ngalak kaditj boodjar kep wer kaadidjiny kalyakool yoodaniny, wer koora wer yeyi ngalak Birdiya koota-djinanginy.

City of Cockburn acknowledges the Nyungar people of Beeliar boodja. Long ago, now and in the future they care for country.
We acknowledge a continuing connection to land, waters and culture and pay our respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging.