The Dutch history of Schouten Island Schouten Island, located off the east coast of Tasmania, forms part of the Freycinet Peninsula and holds a significant place in the history of Dutch exploration in the Southern Hemisphere. Its narrative, like many Tasmanian islands, is marked by its Indigenous heritage, European exploration, Read more…
Johannes (Joh) Oost (1928–2024), born in the Netherlands in 1928, led an extraordinary life that seamlessly blended his Dutch heritage with the adventurous spirit of an Australian migrant. His story is one of resilience, innovation, and enduring contributions to his adopted homeland. A Dutch foundation Born in the village of Read more…
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in the South West Pacific Area, a significant milestone in global history. Brisbane’s role during this time was crucial as a central command hub for Allied forces, hosting General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters and serving as a launchpad for Read more…
A family’s journey from persecution to peace In 1939, the Nazi regime upended the life of my grandfather, a tax accountant in Vienna, Austria. He owned a large apartment in the city, but being born in Czechoslovakia made him a target, despite my grandmother Caroline Kleiner’s Catholic faith and blonde Read more…
The Tarin Kowt Memorial, located in Corinda, Queensland, is a bronze replica of the original memorial wall from Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. It honors the men and women from various nations who served in Uruzgan Province, listing the names of 114 coalition soldiers who lost their lives there, including 40 Australians. Read more…
Maria Island, situated off the east coast of Tasmania, holds a rich and complex history, particularly tied to Dutch exploration. Its story is interwoven with Indigenous heritage, European exploration, and a brief period as a convict settlement. Indigenous heritage For thousands of years, the Tyreddeme people of the Oyster Bay Read more…
Selected individuals linked to the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) during World War II for which the Archives holds interviews. Click here for the interviews. The Archive is an Australian Government initiative, commissioned through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. It is a unique, historical collection, a resource for everyone interested in Read more…
The Dutch plans to establish a settlement on the west coast of New Holland (modern-day Western Australia) in the 1820s were part of broader European colonial interests in the region. Although the Dutch explored the territory of New Holland since its discovery by Abel Tasman in the 17th century, their Read more…
Republished with permission. Chapter two from the book: A Touch of Dutch. For the full pdf click here. See also: First contact between the Dutch and the Aboriginal People
The diary of G Rhee is quite unique because it was written in 1940. Gerard Rhee was one of the first Dutch migrants to Tasmania. There are interesting glimpses in this diary of a young man who fell in love with a local lass. Apart from notes about his courting, Read more…