A forgotten chapter in Queensland's history is being brought to life.

Researcher Joanne Tapiolas has spent the past two and half years piecing together the story of Italian Prisoners of War (POWs) who were captured in North Africa during the Second World War and brought to Queensland.

Of the estimated 350,000 Italians who were captured or surrendered in North Africa, more than 1,500 prisoners were sent to Queensland to work on farms.

"By 1943 the Federal Government realised food security was extremely important," Ms Tapiolas said.

"A scheme was devised to place [Italian POWs] on to farms to be the labour force for the farmers."

Throughout Queensland, 10 Prisoner of War Control Centres–Without Guard were established in Nambour, Stanthorpe, Gympie, Gayndah, Texas, Kenilworth, Atherton, Kingaroy, Monto and Boonah.

Ms Tapiolas said Italian POWs were typically billeted two to three at a time on farms in these designated districts.

The prisoners were sent to live and work on the farms unguarded at a cost to farmers of one pound per week, per prisoner.

Childhood memories

Thea Beswick's family were the recipients of three Italian POWS on their orchard, near Gayndah.

Ms Beswick was seven years old when the POWs arrived, and she said her family always felt very comfortable with them.

"The only thing that we worried about was that they would get lost," Ms Beswick said.

"They were absolutely terrified of the bush because there were no houses around us.

"Escaping wasn't in their plans at all, because they were treated so well."

Thea Beswick (nee Robinson) pictured with her parents and Italian prisoner of war Domenico Petruzzi on their family orchard Glen Ellen, Gayndah. ( Supplied: Joanne Tapiolas )

While the prisoners were unguarded, farmers still had to adhere to strict regulations in order to ensure control of the Italian men.

Ms Tapiolas said that the POWs were not allowed to go to town, or congregate at church with other POWs or with women.

"The farmer had to provide adequate bedding and accommodation," Ms Tapiolas said.

"It couldn't just be a tin shed, it had to be lined, it had to have mattresses, they had to have access to food and showers.

"The POWs worked a six-day week, on Sundays the farmer had to allow them to attend church and in the afternoon they were allowed to travel up to one mile away from the farm homestead."

Ms Tapiolas said that the POW experience in Queensland was varied, but overall the farming communities were very welcoming towards them.

"The Italian POWs were very grateful that they were out of the war zone and actually living and working in a farm environment," she said.

"The farming children in particular loved the POWs."

Domenico Petruzzi gave this embroidery to the Robinson family. The initials stand for 'Remember Domenico Petruzzi Prisoner of War'. ( ABC Wide Bay: Trudie Leigo )

Ms Beswick formed a close friendship with one of their billeted POWs, Domenico Petruzzi.

"The reason I remember Domenico was because he had a lot to do with my brother and me," Ms Beswick said.

"He used to play with us and he used to babysit us when Mum and Dad had to go to meetings.

"He just liked being around us, he probably missed his family."

Ms Beswick said her whole family was very sad when Mr Petruzzi had to leave when the war ended.

"He cried, he didn't want to go," Ms Beswick said.

"We've never forgotten that, that we wanted him back so badly, he was like family to us."

Return to Italy

At the end of the war, in accordance with the Geneva Convention, all Italian POWs had to be repatriated to Italy.

Ms Tapiolas said many of the Italian men wanted to stay working in Australia.

"Many farmers ended up sponsoring their former prisoners to return to Australia after the war," Ms Tapiolas said.

Ms Beswick said her father had tried to sponsor Mr Petruzzi's migration, but in the post-war chaos of Italy, they sadly lost contact with him.

Ms Tapiolas said not being able to trace the Italian men was a common experience for Queensland farming families.

Aldolfo D'Addario was an Italian Prisoner of War who returned to Australia after the war ended. He was sponsored by Geoffrey Pownall the farmer from Monto who he had been billeted with during the war. ( Supplied: Joanne Tapiolas )

Through her research Ms Tapiolas has been able to reunite families with the former POWs who they once lived and worked with.

She said the story of these prisoners of war had largely been forgotten in Queensland, except by those families who were directly involved in the labour scheme.

Ms Beswick said they left behind an important legacy in her community of Gayndah.

"We gained a great deal of compassion for the prisoners, they weren't the enemy," she said.

"We all knew there was no way in the world these men wanted to be at war.

"So they were treated just like everybody else and I think it made us more accepting of migrants."

Ms Tapiolas said she would continue to travel to Queensland gathering the stories of Italian POWs from the farming families as well as the military personnel involved in the scheme.

"I would like to think there are more stories out there to be told," she said.