Women and children began arriving at Curtin Detention Centre in the Kimberley region of Western Australia this week for the first time in more than a decade.
A total of 138 asylum seekers have been transferred from Christmas Island to Curtin.
The ABC reports the first group of 74 people arrived on Wednesday and another group of 69 arrived on Thursday.
There are a total of 49 families from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
A Department of Immigration spokesman said each family has its own donga and bathroom and is separated from single men at the facility.
Curtin was closed by the Howard government after protests by detainees.
It was re-opened to single men in 2010, but this week Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor announced plans for family groups to be moved back into the facility.
