(In 1942) When the Japanese overran the Netherlands East Indies, 14 officials from the NEI administration were ordered to escape to Australia.
After April 1944, when the US 6th Army transferred its headquarters to Hollandia (in New Guinea), Camp Columbia was o erred to the Dutch.
On 14 September 1944, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands authorised the formation of a NEI Government-in-Exile This was to be the only foreign government ever established on Australian soil.
Eventually, nearly 2000 personnel om various Dutch or NEI organisations would be based at Camp Columbia. There were 500 people including many Australians who worked for the departments of the NEI Government-in-Exile. Another 1000 personnel came from various military units such as NEFIS.
(When the war ended)…. “the declaration of Indonesia’s independence by Soekarno on 17 August (1945) meant that the Dutch found that they were not welcome to return to the NEI.
The Australian Government was sympathetic towards these nationalists and therefore embarrassed about the continuing Dutch presence at Wacol. So before the end of 1945 the Dutch quietly left Camp Columbia and this unique period in Australian history came to an end.”
Excerpts from Ford, Dr Jonathan (Jack) Ford (1996) ‘Allies in a Bind, NESWA, Brisbane