A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre (DACC) and Badan Pelestarian Pusaka Indonesia (BPPI – Indonesian Heritage Trust) is expected to strengthen research and public awareness of the Indonesian presence in Australia during the Second World War, particularly at Camp Columbia in Brisbane.
Although the agreement has been signed by DACC, it has clear relevance for the work of the Camp Columbia Heritage Association (CCHA), as it opens the door to collaboration with Indonesian heritage partners on projects directly connected to the history of the site and its wider wartime context.
Indonesian presence at Camp Columbia
During the Second World War, Australia became a key operational and administrative base for the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) following the Japanese invasion of the archipelago. Camp Columbia in Wacol was one of the central locations where Dutch military units, administrative personnel, and support staff operated in exile.
Among those present were many native Indonesians who had evacuated with Dutch authorities and Allied forces. Although often recorded administratively as part of the “Dutch” presence, these Indonesians included sailors, soldiers, civil servants, labourers and political figures whose wartime experiences formed an important but largely overlooked chapter in the shared history of Indonesia and the Netherlands in Australia.
The new MoU provides opportunities to undertake more systematic research into these Indonesian wartime experiences, including efforts to identify personal stories, family histories, and archival material in Indonesia that may shed further light on life at Camp Columbia and other wartime locations across Australia.
Indonesian wartime graves in Brisbane
A particularly tangible reminder of this Indonesian presence can be found in Brisbane itself. At Toowong Cemetery there are Indonesian wartime graves connected to this period, reflecting the human dimension of the exile experience and the contribution of Indonesians to the Allied war effort in Australia.
An early activity linked to the MoU will involve research and documentation related to these graves, as well as collaboration with relevant organisations on the restoration of one of the burial sites. These efforts aim to ensure that the individuals buried there are properly recognised and that their stories can be better understood and shared with future generations.
Once restoration works have been completed, a small commemorative ceremony is planned at Toowong Cemetery. This event is expected to involve representatives from Indonesian heritage networks alongside Dutch and Australian participants, symbolising the shared wartime history that connects the three countries.
Strengthening international heritage cooperation
For CCHA, the MoU represents an important step in strengthening international cooperation around the preservation and interpretation of Camp Columbia’s history. By engaging Indonesian partners directly, the initiative broadens the narrative beyond traditional national perspectives and reinforces the concept of shared heritage.
The partnership is non-binding but provides a practical framework for collaboration in areas such as historical research, archival exchange, exhibitions, and public engagement. It also highlights the continuing relevance of Camp Columbia as a place where international wartime histories intersected and where new opportunities now exist to deepen understanding of those connections.
Through this developing cooperation, CCHA hopes to contribute to a more inclusive historical narrative that recognises the roles played by Indonesians, Dutch and Australians in Brisbane during the war — and to ensure that the physical traces of this history, including the wartime graves, are preserved and appropriately commemorated.