New camp for SAF soldiers on Exercise Wallaby in Australia now operational

Singapore soldiers who are on Exercise Wallaby and other training exercises in Australia now have a new camp to support them while they are away from home.

- Ng Wei Kai

Camp Tilpal, located north of the city of Rockhampton and in the newly expanded Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia, has improvements in accommodation, operational and medical facilities compared with the existing Camp Growl. It also has widespread wireless internet access.

Construction of the camp began in 2019 and was completed earlier in 2024.

The camp, which was jointly developed by Singapore and Australia, is able to house about 2,000 soldiers. It will also be used by Australian troops as well as other armed forces.

Defence Science and Technology Agency senior programme manager Beatrice Kwan, who worked on the new camp, said the buildings and the camp's overall structure were designed with the terrain and weather in mind, taking into account factors such as wind direction and sun exposure to keep soldiers cool.

The camp also features an improved exercise command room, where commanders coordinate units out in the field.