Following the Second World War, Dutch migrants arriving in Australia faced the challenge of adapting to an English-speaking society while maintaining their Dutch language and cultural identity. Over time, English increasingly replaced Dutch, not only within families but also in Dutch community organisations.
Sacha McPherson, a student at the University of Amsterdam who undertook an internship at the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre (DACC) in 2026, explored this transition through the Centre’s archival collections.
Her research examines meeting minutes and correspondence from several Dutch organisations in New South Wales, revealing how the transition from Dutch to English occurred at different times across these communities.
This initial investigation highlights the historical value of the DACC archives and their potential for further research into Dutch migration, assimilation and cultural identity in Australia.
Sacha’s research paper, Dutch vs English: What can the DACC archives tell us about language shift?, is available below as a PDF.
