Internment Camp Ruins and Forest Edge Country at Blue Range

Overview

Blue Range Recreation Area sits on the western side of Canberra, about 45 minutes from the city, where native bushland meets the pine country of Uriarra Forest. It is a compact place, but it has a distinct character, with tall ribbon gums, open ground and a setting shaped by both forest history and the surrounding hill country.

What gives Blue Range its identity is the way natural and historic elements sit together in the same landscape. The area is centred on the remains of a World War II internment camp, while nearby walking routes pass through bushland and plantation country towards the old Sherwood homestead site.

Highlights

The scenery here comes from contrast rather than big, dramatic landforms. Blue Range has a mix of tall ribbon gum woodland, native bush and adjoining pine plantation, which gives the area a varied look and feel through the seasons. In spring, the daffodils at nearby Sherwood add an unexpected burst of colour in an otherwise strongly bushland setting.

The surrounding country also has a pleasantly open, high-country feel that is quite different from the river reserves lower down in the Murrumbidgee corridor. Even in a relatively small area, the blend of eucalypts, forest edge and clearings makes it easy to picture the pastoral and forestry history that has shaped this part of the ACT.

Best Time to Visit

Spring is the standout season if you want to see the area at its most colourful, especially when the daffodils at Sherwood are flowering. It is also a good time for the ribbon gums and surrounding bush to feel fresh after winter.

Autumn and the milder parts of summer are also appealing for the dry forest scenery and open views through the trees. Winter tends to bring a quieter, barer look that suits the area’s history and woodland character, though the higher, more exposed setting can feel quite cold.

Plants and Animals

Blue Range is known for its tall ribbon gums, with native bushland alongside areas of former pine plantation. That combination creates a landscape with both local woodland character and the more regimented look of plantation forest nearby.

Birdwatching is one of the natural strengths of the area, and the mix of eucalypts, open spaces and adjoining forest supports a range of common bush birds. The vegetation is as much a part of the experience here as any single lookout or landmark, especially where the ribbon gums frame the old camp area.

Culture and Heritage

Blue Range has clear historic significance as the site of a World War II internment camp for Italian people. Men held here were put to work clearing land, raising pine seedlings, planting, cutting hardwood and producing charcoal, linking the place closely to the forestry history of the district.

Remnants of that period still survive in the landscape, including stonework, concrete slabs, channels, terraces and charcoal pits. The nearby Sherwood homestead site adds an older layer of rural history, with the surviving fireplace stones and exotic trees still hinting at the former house and garden layout.