 At the outbreak of the war there were about 35 @,@ 000 people who had been born in either Germany or Austria @-@ Hungary living in Australia . Due to large @-@ scale German migration in the late 19th century , there were also an inestimable number of people of German origin , many of whom maintained an affinity for their ancestral roots . Many of these were naturalised Australians , and indeed it is believed that many men of German origin enlisted in the AIF . However , due to concerns about the loyalties of some members of the German and Austrian communities , internment camps were set up where those suspected of unpatriotic acts were sent . In total it is believed that 4 @,@ 500 people were interned under the provisions of the War Precautions Act , of which 700 were naturalised Australians and 70 Australian @-@ born . Following the end of the war , 6 @,@ 150 were deported . 
