Dutch dredging companies, engineers and workers have made an important contribution to Australia’s maritime and industrial development. This history encompasses the supply of Dutch-built machinery, the establishment of Australian subsidiaries, major port and reclamation projects, and the organised migration of skilled workers and their families.
This portal brings together the DACC’s articles about the companies, projects, archival sources and people associated with Dutch dredging in Australia. It will be expanded as further information and personal stories become available.
General history and migration
- From Sliedrecht to Williamstown: Dutch dredging workers in post-war Australia
The central migration story of the Dutch workers and families brought to Australia in 1950. The article includes the surviving seating plans for the two organised KLM flights of 22 June and 22 July. - Contemporary newspaper reports on the Sliedrecht–Williamstown dredging migration, 1950–1954
A collection of Australian and Dutch newspaper clippings documenting the company, workers, dredging equipment, KLM flights, accommodation and expanding Australian operations.
Passengers and personal stories
The two specially organised KLM flights of 22 June and 22 July 1950 carried Dutch dredging workers and members of their families to Australia. Research has since recovered the stories of many of these passengers, while the identities and later lives of others remain under investigation.
The DACC has created a separate alphabetical passenger register containing the two surviving seating plans, passenger names and seat numbers, concise biographical information, links to the personal histories published so far, and an appeal for further information.
This continuing research has been undertaken through collaboration between the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre and Kees van der Sluijs and Fred Stuij of the Historische Vereniging Sliedrecht.
See: Passengers of the 1950 KLM dredging flights to Australia – an A–Z research register
Companies, projects and engineering
- Australian Dredging and General Works (1950–2011): Dutch engineering in post-war Australia
The history of the Williamstown-based company established to bring Dutch dredging equipment, expertise and skilled workers to Australia. - From Sliedrecht to VolkerWessels: the Dutch companies behind Australian Dredging and General Works
The corporate history of Adriaan Volker, Van Hattum en Blankevoort, Stevin, Volker Stevin and VolkerWessels. - From Dutch Dredging Migrants to Korevaar Marine Group: A Sliedrecht Family Business in Australia
- HAM and the creation of Kwinana: Dutch dredging expertise in Western Australia
The story of the major dredging works undertaken by the Hollandsche Aanneming Maatschappij to provide deep-water access to Kwinana and Cockburn Sound. - Van Oord’s Dutch engineering legacy in Australia
Van Oord’s Australian history, from the earlier activities of predecessor company HAM to modern projects at Brisbane Airport, Gladstone and elsewhere. - A.F. Smulders: Dutch industrial innovation and its legacy in Australia
The construction of the bucket dredge South Australian in Schiedam in 1910 and its shipment and reassembly at Port Adelaide. - Kasper Kuiper: a Dutch mariner and community leader in Australia
A maritime career connecting HAM, Ballast Nedam, Van Oord and dredging and port-development projects across Australia and internationally.
Family reflection
- Glenda Korporaal – “Reflections of a migrant’s daughter”
A personal reflection on Glenda’s father, Henk Korporaal, Dick van Teulingen and the experience of growing up as the daughter of a Dutch migrant.
