This document presents a carefully compiled historical resource based on the newsletters of the Dutch Australian Society ‘Abel Tasman’ (DAS) in Tasmania. Drawing on issues published from the Society’s establishment in 1972 until its gradual decline, the study records every individual name mentioned in the newsletters, together with the context, date and nature of the reference. In doing so, it offers a factual and memory-independent snapshot of participation, leadership and community engagement within this important Dutch migrant organisation.
While the resulting list represents only a small subset of the wider Dutch migrant population in Tasmania, it nevertheless provides valuable insight into the social and cultural networks that helped sustain Dutch identity and community life. The DAS contributed to migrant integration and cultural continuity through activities such as Sinterklaas celebrations, community radio broadcasts, cultural events, youth exchanges and support initiatives for newly arrived migrants.
The study identifies approximately 538 individuals by name, with around 500 people estimated to have been actively involved in DAS activities over time. This represents roughly five per cent of the broader Dutch migrant community in Tasmania, which is estimated to have reached about 10,000 people when including locally born descendants.
Although the document does not attempt to analyse motivations such as religious affiliation or long-term demographic patterns, it provides a reliable foundation for further historical and genealogical research. As such, it is a significant archival contribution to understanding Dutch migrant experiences in Tasmania and the evolution of community organisations in post-war Australia.
The list of names can be made available to researchers. Contact the DACC for more details. Further information can also be researchers at the State Library and Archives of Tasmania who hold all the copies of the DAS newsletters: Tasman Telegraph.
