Blakeville - Balt Camp

The 'Balt Camp' was a refugee work camp for 'displaced persons' - including from the Baltic States - after World War 2.

The Balt Camp was built by the Forestry Commission to give employment for young displaced persons from Northern Europe in 1946. The male workers were given the weekend off and either walked to Bullarto to catch the train or just walked through the forest to Daylesford.

Built in 1946, all that remains today are two chimneys and the foundations/stone walls of multiple buildings including the cook house, managers hut and toilet block.

The two chimneys here were part of a mess hut for a refugee work camp of 25–50 men built after World War 2. War refugees were paid £10 by the government to cover the costs of passage in return for acting as cheap indentured labour for two years for the Forests Commission. They thinned the forest, cut firewood, built roads and fire tracks – far from home and family. Short of manpower, the Forests Commission managed 11 work camps, nicknamed 'Balt' camps. Of the 182,000 'displaced persons' brought to Australia after the war, many came from northern Europe's Baltic states.

The remains of the Able Mine lie across the other side of Camp Road.

It is possible to camp here for free but the only facilities are a fire pit.

Location: Balt Camp is located along Camp Road between Lerderderg Track (to the north) and Rat Hole Track (to the south).

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