A three-member Heritage Victoria panel will take evidence over February 10 and 11 at the Benalla Performing Arts and Convention Centre.

Last July, Heritage Victoria rejected listing on several grounds that included the Bonegilla camp demonstrating a connection to immigration in “a far clearer manner​”.

There were then 30 objections and as a result Heritage Victoria is revisiting the decision which affects nine huts, two toilet blocks and the front gate which survive from the camp that opened at the Benalla airport in 1949 .

Benalla Migrant Camp Inc chairwoman Sabine Smyth has been driving the campaign for listing which arose after concerns that a redevelopment of the airport could harm the huts’ integrity.

She believes the work of Border historian Bruce Pennay, who published a book on the camp last year, may help sway a move to listing.

“We were collecting personal stories but we needed a historian to look at where the Benalla camp fitted in and Bruce did that and he found it was the longest-running migrant camp of its type,” Ms Smyth said.

“As opposed to Bonegilla where people were registered, matched and farmed out, at Benalla people stayed for years and years, some people stayed for 10 years.”

Ms Smyth said Benalla had a special role in housing migrant women, including widowed mothers and the wives of those working on the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

She said estimated since Hut 11 first opened to the public on Australia Day 2013 there had been 3500 visitors.

However, in its finding the Heritage Council downplayed social ties.

“There is no regular, organised or enduring ceremonial use of the place to indicate that the relationship is particularly strong or special,” the council stated.

Benalla mayor Justin King backs listing, saying: “It’s a big part of Benalla’s history and as we move forward it’s easy to forget our past and they are a reminder of just how far Australia has come and Benalla has come.”