Rutherford Army Camp

Rutherford Army Camp was an Australian army camp near Rutherford, New South Wales, Australia. Initially set up around 1901 it was closed in the early 1950's.

The camp was initially used for training by the Citizens' Military Forces in the years prior to the World War I. Training was conducted for units of the First Australian Imperial Force (1AIF), prior to embarking for overseas deployment. With the end of World War I, the camp remained in use through the inter-war period. During World War II, the camp was again used for the training of units of both the Second Australian Imperial Force (2AIF) and Citizens' Military Forces militia troops. The facilties at Rutherford Camp were spartan consisting of tent accomodation. After the cessation of World War II, the camp area was gradually sold off to be resumed as grazing land and closed in the early 1950s.

The 61st Australian Camp Hospital was located at Rutherford Camp. The troops and supplies for the camp were transported by rail and offloaded at the Rutherford Racecourse siding on the Rutherford Racecourse railway line.

References

* [http://www.awm.gov.au/units/place_504051.asp Australian War Memorial]
* [http://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:rutherford Rutherford Racecourse Branch Line]