South West Rocks Trial Bay Gaol German Monument

About

This stone obelisk is located on the Monument Hill Track in the Arakoon National Park at Trial Bay. It is dedicated to all residents of German descent who were interned in the Trial Bay Gaol during the First World War. The gaol was initially built in the period 1877 to 1886 to house prisoners who were constructing a breakwater to make the bay safer. In 1903 the gaol was abandoned but was re-opened in 1915 to house German wartime internees. The Germans constructed a monument on the hill above Laggers Point in memory of five detainees who had died. The bodies of three internees were buried at the monument: Conrad Peter (1877-1917) Hernman I.W. Adam (1879-1915) Arno Friedichj (1888-1917).  There is an interpretation on the western side of the monument titled 'The Hidden Cost of War' with details of three of the internees. The monument was destroyed in 1919 [German Monument, (1919, July 11). The Urana Independent and Clear Hills Standard, p. 1] and rebuilt in 1959-1960 with funds provided by the German Consulate and assistance from the Macleay Shire Council and Kempsey Rotary Club. A detailed history of the monument has been published here: Aliens at home: World War I Internees at Trial Bay [Zivil Lager (Internment Camp) (viewed 20 June 2018)].

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