Hay Internment Camp Money
Object numberM1999/048:001
TitleHay Internment Camp Money
DescriptionHay internment camp currency, printed in Hay, New South Wales, 1 March 1941, consisting of three denominations, Two Shillings (red), Six Pence (blue) and One Shilling (green). The same design is used for each of the denominations.
Under threat of invasion, in the summer of 1940, the British government rounded up and interned recently arrived German and Austrian Jewish and political refugees from Nazi Germany. When war broke out, England responded to public panic over the so-called 'enemy within' by interning thousands of these foreign nationals. Australia agreed to assist the 'mother country' in this process and in July 1940, the HMT Dunera set sail from Liverpool to Sydney, carrying 2,542 male 'enemy aliens'. Arriving in Sydney on 6 September 1940, the 'Dunera Boys', as they came to be known, were first interned in Hay and Orange in NSW. Eventually they were brought to Tatura, Victoria. Although behind barbed wire, these camps operated as communities and incorporated canteens, hospitals and dental facilities, sports and recreational facilities, schools, music, theatres and other artistic activities. In an attempt to rationalise the camp’s growing economy, currency notes were issued.
George A Teltscher (1904-1983), a graphic designer interned in Hay, designed the notes. They feature hidden messages and humorous refences to camp life. Interwoven amongst the barbed wire border are the words “We are here because we are here because we are here” interwoven – this was sung by internees to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. The bottom of the wire fence contains the words H.M.T. Dunera Liverpool to Hay.
The sheep in the shield at lower centre contains the name ‘Eppenstein’ hidden in the fleece, a reference to the camp leader. There are signatures of the camp bank manager: Richard Stahl, W Epstein, E Mendel or H M Robinow. The back of the notes features 25 sheep in five rows of five and the words ‘This note is valid only within the boundaries of Camp Seven Internment Camp Hay. The Bank is under no obligation to honour this note if presented by Holders outside this Camp.’ George A Teltscher’s name appears on the front of each note, at the lower right. The sheep have the number 7 on their fleece. Hidden in the wool are names that are still the subject of debate. Some say they are the hut leaders, others that they were prominent members of the camp.
Under threat of invasion, in the summer of 1940, the British government rounded up and interned recently arrived German and Austrian Jewish and political refugees from Nazi Germany. When war broke out, England responded to public panic over the so-called 'enemy within' by interning thousands of these foreign nationals. Australia agreed to assist the 'mother country' in this process and in July 1940, the HMT Dunera set sail from Liverpool to Sydney, carrying 2,542 male 'enemy aliens'. Arriving in Sydney on 6 September 1940, the 'Dunera Boys', as they came to be known, were first interned in Hay and Orange in NSW. Eventually they were brought to Tatura, Victoria. Although behind barbed wire, these camps operated as communities and incorporated canteens, hospitals and dental facilities, sports and recreational facilities, schools, music, theatres and other artistic activities. In an attempt to rationalise the camp’s growing economy, currency notes were issued.
George A Teltscher (1904-1983), a graphic designer interned in Hay, designed the notes. They feature hidden messages and humorous refences to camp life. Interwoven amongst the barbed wire border are the words “We are here because we are here because we are here” interwoven – this was sung by internees to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. The bottom of the wire fence contains the words H.M.T. Dunera Liverpool to Hay.
The sheep in the shield at lower centre contains the name ‘Eppenstein’ hidden in the fleece, a reference to the camp leader. There are signatures of the camp bank manager: Richard Stahl, W Epstein, E Mendel or H M Robinow. The back of the notes features 25 sheep in five rows of five and the words ‘This note is valid only within the boundaries of Camp Seven Internment Camp Hay. The Bank is under no obligation to honour this note if presented by Holders outside this Camp.’ George A Teltscher’s name appears on the front of each note, at the lower right. The sheep have the number 7 on their fleece. Hidden in the wool are names that are still the subject of debate. Some say they are the hut leaders, others that they were prominent members of the camp.
Production placeSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Production date 1941-03-01
Subject, internment camps, Dunera
Object namecurrency
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 138.00 mm
height: 75.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Jeremy Glick