Kapooka Tragedy 1945: The History & Stories of Kapooka Barracks
Kapooka, just outside Wagga Wagga, is home to the Army Recruit Training Centre, where new Australian Army soldiers do their basic training. In 1945 it was the site of one of the worst peacetime training accidents in Australian military history, when an explosion killed 26 soldiers.
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The tragedy is still part of the base's identity, and so are the stories that some soldiers and staff tell about the training grounds at night. Kapooka is an active military base, so this post is about the history and how to honour it, not a visit plan. It's one of the regional chapters in our guide Supernatural Sydney.
The History of the Kapooka Tragedy
Kapooka was set up during the Second World War to train large numbers of soldiers. On the afternoon of 21 May 1945, during a demolitions training exercise at what was then the Royal Australian Engineers training centre, explosives detonated inside an underground dugout where soldiers were preparing charges.
Twenty-four men were killed at once and two more died of their wounds, 26 in all: 22 trainees and four instructors. Their funeral in Wagga Wagga three days later drew thousands of locals onto the streets, and the men were buried together in the Wagga Wagga War Cemetery.
The base kept operating and remains a key training establishment today. The tragedy is taught to recruits as a lesson in safety, and since 1995 the Army has held a small memorial service each year on 21 May.
The Stories Told at Kapooka
Alongside the official history, a quieter set of stories has circulated among those who've trained and worked at Kapooka. Soldiers and staff have reported feelings of unease, footsteps with no one there and sudden chills during night exercises, particularly around the training grounds linked to 1945.
These are personal accounts passed around a base, not documented events, and we share them with care. For many people, Kapooka is first a place of mourning, where 26 young men lost their lives in service. Any ghost story here sits second to that.
Can You Visit Kapooka?
No, not on your own. Kapooka is an active military base and the public isn't permitted inside without authorisation. The only exceptions are official open days or commemorative events, when the Army invites the public. Please don't approach the gates, photograph the base or try to enter.
The most direct way to pay your respects is at Wagga Wagga War Cemetery, where the 26 soldiers are buried, or by attending a public commemoration if one is announced. The map below shows the general area only.
Know Before You Go
- Active military base: no entry without authorisation, and photography is restricted.
- Public access is only during official open days or commemorative events. Check Army or Defence announcements.
- At the war cemetery, keep quiet, don't touch or lean on headstones, and don't photograph people visiting graves.
- This is a place of mourning for 26 soldiers and their families. Honour them quietly and respect base security.
Kapooka FAQs
What happened at Kapooka in 1945?
On 21 May 1945, explosives detonated in a dugout during demolitions training, killing 26 soldiers: 24 instantly and two later from their wounds.
Can the public visit Kapooka?
Only during official open days or commemorative events. It is an active Army base with controlled access.
Where are the Kapooka soldiers buried?
In the Wagga Wagga War Cemetery.
Is Kapooka haunted?
Some soldiers and staff have described unease, footsteps and chills during night training. These are personal accounts, not documented events.
