Three events in the Benalla Festival program offer a more personal insight into Victoria’s rich post-war migrant heritage.

Simon Reich of Bonegilla - The Migrants’ Journey and Sabine Smyth of the Benalla Migrant Camp Exhibition are offering a film screening at Swanpool Cinema on Friday November 6 at 7.30pm.

There is also a photographic exhibition at Hut 11 at Benalla Airport on Saturday, October 31 from 10am to 3pm (the entrance fee of $5 per person includes an optional walking tour leaving from Hut 11, 2pm to 3pm, on Saturday, October 31) and a European coffee and cake at Hut 65 (the former camp chapel) on Sunday, November 1 from 2pm to 4pm.

With post-war migration came a huge cultural and social shift to Benalla.

Migrants introduced continental delicatessens to Benalla’s CBD, bringing the first coffee machine to George’s Cafe, Benalla, which made the local paper at the time.

Photos from the private collections of former camp residents give a very personal insight into camp life.

After arriving at Bonegilla, migrants were sent to the Benalla camp while they worked at local factories (which are now gone).

The award-winning documentary Bonegilla - The Migrants’ Journey, screening in Swanpool, has the tagline “You’ll cry. You’ll laugh. But most of all, you’ll be truly inspired by these gutsy pioneers, who made a new life for themselves in a country they knew nothing about."

To book for the coffee and cake event in the chapel, go to events.humanitix.com/coffee-and-cake-in-the-chapel-hut-65 and follow the prompts.

Tickets include one piece of cake/torte and one hot drink. For people who do not know how to buy an online ticket, contact sabine.smyth@gmail.com for assistance.

To book for the Bonegilla - The Migrants’ Journey documentary and live music concert at Swanpool Cinema, go to trybooking.com/DOOUG

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Wednesday, 11th November 2026

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