Among the many Dutch families who helped shape post-war Australia, few have left such a lasting legacy as the Van Berkel family. Today, their name is synonymous with tulips, flower bulbs and horticulture in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges. Yet behind this successful family business lies a remarkable migration story—one that begins Read more
Among Australia’s many post-war migrant reception centres, Greta Migrant Camp occupies a special place. Located in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, it was one of the country’s largest migrant camps and welcomed approximately 100,000 migrants between 1949 and 1960. For many newly arrived Europeans, Greta represented their first Read more
Minister, migrant advocate and community builder The story of Dutch migration to Australia is often told through the experiences of the migrants themselves. Less well known are the men and women who helped them settle into their new country. Among the most influential was Rev. Drs. Cornelis (Cor) Uidam, a Read more
For more than three decades, the Villawood Migrant Hostel was one of Australia’s largest and most significant migrant accommodation centres. Located in Sydney’s south-west, it became a temporary home for tens of thousands of migrants arriving under Australia’s post-war immigration programme. For many migrants, Villawood represented their first experience of Read more
For more than three decades, the Finsbury Migrant Hostel—later renamed the Pennington Migrant Hostel—was one of Australia’s largest migrant accommodation centres. Located in Adelaide’s western suburbs, it became a temporary home for tens of thousands of migrants and refugees who arrived in South Australia after the Second World War. Although Read more
The Benalla Migrant Camp in north-eastern Victoria provided temporary accommodation for approximately 60,000 European migrants between 1949 and 1967. Although less well known than the nearby Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre, Benalla played a distinctive role in Australia’s post-war immigration program. For many migrants, including families with Dutch connections, Read more
Although relatively few Dutch migrants appear to have stayed at Stuart compared with Australia’s larger reception centres, the hostel formed part of the national network established under Australia’s post-war immigration programme. It welcomed hundreds of migrants escaping the devastation of Europe and helped supply the workforce needed to develop North Read more
Following the Second World War, Australia embarked on one of the largest migration programs in its history. Between the late 1940s and the 1960s, thousands of migrants from the Netherlands chose Australia as their new home. While Bonegilla in Victoria is perhaps the best-known migrant reception centre, many Dutch migrants Read more
A DACC Research Series on Australia’s Post-war Migrant Reception Centres and Hostels Between the late 1940s and the 1970s, hundreds of thousands of migrants arrived in Australia under the Commonwealth’s assisted migration schemes. For many, their first experience of Australia was not a suburban home or country town, but a Read more
By Catherine Mahoney The Netherlands Services Canteen was officially opened on Saturday, 29 January 1944 by the Netherlands Consul-General, Mr J. B. D. Pennik. The event was celebrated with a cocktail party attended by members of the Dutch community, Brisbane’s Lord Mayor, J. B. Chandler, and officers of the Australian Read more