Why This 9-Minute Experience Needs to Be on Your Cowra Itinerary
Written by Stassi Austin.
Why This 9-Minute Experience Needs to Be on Your Cowra Itinerary
Have you ever seen a Hologram? I’ll be honest, I hadn’t before visiting Cowra. Usually, when I think of anything high-tech, my mind goes to big city galleries and museums, so I certainly didn’t expect to find a world-class immersive experience tucked away in a quiet corner of regional NSW.
But that’s the thing about Cowra; it’s constantly surprising you.
Before you head off to find that perfect Instagram shot in the Japanese Garden or grab a glass of local wine (which, let’s be real, are both essential for your Cowra trip), there is one person you absolutely have to meet first.
Her name is Clare.
You’ll find Clare at the Cowra Visitor Information Centre, housed in a small tin replica of a hut found at the Cowra Prisoner of War Camp during World War II. Tucked down the back of the VIC, it’s a small and unassuming building from the outside, but once the lights go down, that’s when the magic happens.
Through the incredible use of holographic technology, Clare appears right before your eyes. In a deeply moving nine-minute presentation, she tells the story of the Cowra Breakout, the largest military land battle that occurred on Australian soil during World War II.
Book your free visit here:
It’s one thing to read about history in books or on information boards, but sitting there in the dark, watching Clare move through a diorama of original artefacts, rifles, and barbed wire – that’s a different experience altogether. It’s raw, it’s emotional, and it makes the history of this town feel incredibly personal. What I loved most about watching Clare is that she gives you the heart and soul of the story before you see the actual historical sites. When you eventually stand at the POW Camp ruins or walk through the Australian and Japanese War Cemeteries, you aren’t just looking at old stones and plaques. You’re thinking about the people Clare spoke about and the ongoing legacy of the reconciliation and friendship that grew out of such a tragic night.
My Top Tips:
Start Here: Make this your very first stop. It sets the tone for everything else you’ll see in Cowra and gives you a great perspective of the peace and reconciliation legacy that’s steeped into the town’s identity.
Shop Local: On your way out, have a browse through the Information Centre. They have an amazing selection of Cowra Region Wines (There are daily wine tastings on offer!) and local products that make for the perfect gifts, or snacks for the road trip home!
Ask the Team: The Cowra Visitor Information Team are a wealth of knowledge and are more than happy to share any additional information about the Cowra Breakout story. The Cowra Voices App makes a great companion as you visit the various historical sites or if you’re around in early August, ask about the events occurring for the annual Breakout Anniversary Commemorations.
Cowra is a place that proves history isn’t just about the past – it’s about how we move forward together. And it all starts with a girl named Clare.
Getting here and around
Cowra is easy to reach, conveniently located at the intersection of three major highways:
- From Sydney: Take the Great Western Highway via Lithgow and Bathurst or through the Darling Causeway and via Bell.
- From Canberra: Travel via the Barton Highway, Yass and the Lachlan Valley Way.
With nearby towns such as Bathurst, Orange, Grenfell and Young just an hour to one-and-a-half hours away, Cowra makes a great base from which to explore the surrounding region.
Plan your visit
For an easy guide to planning your trip, check out the Itinerary Planner (there are four day trips that cover Cowra, Canowindra, Woodstock, Wyangala Dam and further into the countryside), or view/download the Visitor Guide.
The Cowra Visitor Information Centre is an essential first stop for visitors to the Cowra region and is open from 8:30am – 5pm weekdays and from 8:30am – 3:30pm on weekends (closed Good Friday & Christmas Day). Don’t forget the 9-minute Prisoner of War Hologram that you can view for free!
Visit Cowra and discover what it means to escape.
