Goulburn in wartime

The Goulburn military camp was established in 1915, when enthusiasm for the war and volunteering for the Australian Imperial Force was still strong. The showground on the north-west edge of Goulburn was taken over for the camp. It was intended that the camp accept men from the local regions and take the strain off the state's main camp outside Liverpool near Sydney. 'Goulburn in wartime' was painted at a time when the camp was very active. Among the facilities it had a hospital, quartermasters' store, and a dry canteen. The pavilion was used as the soldier's mess hall, and the former oval was a parade ground, almost devoid of grass. The artist shows troops going about their work of training, instruction and drill. Some groups can be seen in the usual blue dungarees, and others in yellow. Campbell's painting also shows the camps facilities amid the backdrop of town life and its houses and buildings, with the eastern hills in the distance. The image of young girls peering over the fence at the soldiers adds a very appealing small detail to the scene.