In this interview, from May 2026, with Peter Rasey from Brisbane WWII Story, the discussion with Paul Budde chair of the Camp Columbia Heritage Association follows on from the international symposium that was held in August 2025 and focuses on the momentum that has developed around the Camp Columbia Heritage Association and its longer-term vision for preserving and promoting Brisbane’s wartime history.
The conversation reflects on how the symposium generated new interest and opened pathways for practical collaboration. Rather than simply discussing history, attention has now shifted towards building partnerships and creating structures that can support future research, education and heritage outcomes.
Several key developments are highlighted. These include progress towards a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesian partners, recognising the importance of the shared wartime heritage of Indonesia and the Netherlands in Australia. This broader perspective reflects the increasingly international dimensions of the Camp Columbia story and the historical connections created through wartime exile and cooperation.
The interview also discusses the growing relationship with Wolston House and the National Trust, creating opportunities to link local heritage with the Camp Columbia story through education, exhibitions and community engagement. The proposed collaboration aims to integrate the history of Camp Columbia into a broader heritage landscape in the Wacol area.
Another major development is the emerging collaboration with the University of Queensland. Plans are underway to explore longer-term historical and archaeological research opportunities connected to Camp Columbia and Brisbane’s wartime history.
The discussion also refers to international developments arising from an invitation by the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands to visit the Netherlands. The visit provides an opportunity to introduce both the Camp Columbia Heritage Association and related heritage initiatives to Dutch organisations and researchers, and to explore future collaboration in areas such as digital heritage, research and archaeological mapping.
Together these developments demonstrate that the Camp Columbia project is evolving beyond historical preservation alone. Increasingly it is becoming part of a broader effort to strengthen recognition of Brisbane’s role as a major Allied centre during World War II and to build enduring local and international partnerships around that story.
This aligns with Peter Rasey’s broader work documenting Brisbane’s wartime heritage and promoting greater public recognition of the city’s WWII history.
See also:
Videos: Relive the symposium in minutes—or dive deep.
Symposium delegates visit the site of the former Camp Columbia 1/9/2025
From Symposium to Strategy: Securing Brisbane’s Place as WWII Allied Capital