Topic: Gen - St - Tas
Brighton Camp
Here is the AWM commentary:
Brighton is a small town 28 kilometres from the Tasmanian capital of Hobart. Brighton was one of five sites selected for townships in Tasmania by the Governor of New South Wales, Lachlan Macquarie, in 1821 and for a while was spoken of as a potential capital. A military post was established on the main Hobart-Launceston road at Brighton in 1826 beginning a military presence there that would last for over 170 years. Troops were prepared at Brighton Camp for service in both the First and Second World Wars, and it was also a site familiar to Tasmania's citizen soldiers throughout the Twentieth Century. In the later years of the Second World War Brighton Camp was also used to house prisoners of war and after the war it became a reception camp for refugees from Europe. From the early 1950s onwards, Brighton's primary use was for the training of members of the Citizens Military Forces and Later the Army Reserve. Such usage declined after 1993, and in 1999 it was one of several military camps across Australia used as a save haven for refugees from the conflict in Kosovo. Brighton Camp was closed and sold off soon after.
http://www.awm.gov.au/units/place_1673.asp
To give an idea as to the nature of Brighton Camp, here is a pic of some horsemen watering their horses at the camp. It was part of a series of pix taken by William Williamson, a respected Hobart photographer, during September 1914. This picture was published in the Tasmanian Mail, 10 September 1914, p. 19.
This was also the camp for the Medical Corps.
Pontville Camp
From the Aussie Heritage site:
Pontville`s involvement in the First World War included volunteers and the establishment of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in Tasmania. The Pontville Army Camp was renamed Brighton Army Camp, becoming the focus of military training in Tasmania on 13 August 1914. An ordnance depot was established and volunteers trained as members of the Light Horse, the Field Artillery, Infantry, Engineers and Army Medical Corps. Prior to embarkation South Australian Troops were also in camp at Pontville, and with the Tasmanian Infantry were formed into the 12th Battalion. Historical photographs c.1914 clearly delineate the use of the area by Light Horse Soldiers and it is likely that the name of Rifle Hill, which occupies the centre of the range was named at that time, and that the rifle range was also completed at that time. The rifle range may also incorporate an earlier range used by the Derwent Company of volunteers, since it was usual to retain and develop existing ranges.
http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings/tas/Pontville/PontvilleSmallArmsRangeGrasslandSite/13747
Below is a pic of "A" Company drilling at Pontville camp. This picture was published in the Tasmanian Mail, 3 September 1914, p. 18.
Citation: Brighton and Pontville Camps, Tasmania
Posted by Project Leader
at 6:12 PM EADT
Updated: Wednesday, 18 June 2008 2:00 PM EADT
