The story of Hans Petersen and his son Mike Petersen is a fine example of how Dutch migration enriched Australian football, spanning generations and shaping both community clubs and the national game. Hans Petersen – Dutch arrival, football pioneer The Petersen family emigrated from Amsterdam to Melbourne in 1953 as Read more…
Renaye Iserief is a celebrated figure in the early history of Australian women’s football, but her story is also deeply tied to the broader Dutch-Australian migration narrative. She is one of two Dutch-Australian women — alongside Rose van Bruinessen — who proudly wore the green and gold as Matildas during Read more…
A major maritime discovery has brought to light a remarkable episode in Dutch-Australian history. In March 2025, after more than 160 years hidden beneath the shifting sands of Long Beach near Robe, South Australia, the wreck of the Koning Willem de Tweede was found. The Dutch merchant ship had sunk Read more…
Republished with permission. Chapter 12 of the book: A Touch of Dutch.Including chapter 12: Johanna Bruce – Nee Herklots and family 1850-1917. For the full pdf of the book click here. Introduction chapters of the book: Touch of Dutch
Republished with permission. Chapter 13 of the book: A Touch of Dutch. For the full pdf of the book click here. Introduction chapters of the book: Touch of Dutch See also: Anna Siebenhaar under government surveillance Perth ca 1900 Ferdinand Jacobus Domela Nieuwenhuis Jr
The Coopers Plains History Group has put forward a proposal to name the central park at Cornerstone Living in Coopers Plains, Brisbane, “Dutch Park” to celebrate the area’s significant history tied to the post-WWII Dutch Housing Project. Naming the park would honour a unique collaboration between the Netherlands and Australia Read more…
This article was written during the 2006 Dutch royal visit to Australia. It was weeks of anticipation for the Dutch Community in Tasmania, as they received preliminary invitations and two general invitations in the Saturday Mercury, for the Royal visit. His Royal Highness, the Prince of Orange, and Her Royal Read more…
Cora Baldock was born on 16 December 1935 in Rotterdam as Corrie Vellekoop, the youngest of three children. Her father, Cornelis Vellekoop, was also born in Rotterdam and worked for the Norwegian Consulate there. His job meant that as a young girl Corrie frequently met Norwegian people, who usually communicated Read more…
The paper “Digital Preservation of Cultural Heritage” examines the current state of digitalisation in Australian archives and libraries, comparing it with global trends. It highlights how technological advancements and globalisation allow us to rethink how we preserve cultural heritage, especially in relation to migration. Migrant histories, scattered across borders, require Read more…
In Northam, the Northam Army Camp was converted for use as a reception and accommodation centre and the 118th General Field Hospital was refurbished to become the Holden Holding Centre. The RAAF base at Cunderdin also became a reception and accommodation centre. It served as a pivotal hub for migrants Read more…