Introduction
In 1950, a group of Dutch migrants from the province of Groningen began establishing a settlement at Kingston, south of Hobart, Tasmania. Their undertaking became known as Little Groningen and developed into an important centre of Dutch-Australian religious, educational, commercial and community life.
The original migrants, commonly referred to as the Groningen Seven (G7), shared strong connections through their Reformed Christian background. Their migration was a carefully organised undertaking involving plans to establish a building enterprise, construct homes and provide opportunities for their families in post-war Australia.
Eerke van der Laan and Egbert (Eb) Pinkster travelled ahead to Tasmania to investigate employment and housing opportunities. At Kingston, they negotiated the purchase of land from the Geard family, which could be subdivided into affordable residential blocks. The name Little Groningen was suggested by the landowner.
The settlement grew through the efforts of the original migrants and the families who subsequently joined them. Their contribution extended beyond housing and employment to the establishment of a Reformed congregation, Christian education, community welfare organisations and local businesses.
Although strongly influenced by Dutch religious and cultural traditions, Little Groningen was never an isolated community. Its residents developed close relationships with other Tasmanians, contributed to the wider Kingborough district and participated in the changing social and economic life of post-war Australia.
The history of Little Groningen is therefore both the story of a distinctive Dutch migrant settlement and an example of how organised migration contributed to the development of Australian communities.
About this research collection – Kees Wierenga
This research portal draws principally on the extensive historical work of Kees Wierenga, who has documented Dutch migration and community life in Tasmania, particularly the establishment and development of the Reformed community at Kingston.
Together with Irene Wierenga, Kees maintained the Dutch Tasmanian Connection, collecting historical documents, photographs, family accounts, personal recollections and research publications.
The Wierengas subsequently entrusted this collection to the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre (DACC), ensuring its preservation and continued accessibility.
Kees’s research includes two particularly important publications: Dutch Migration to Tasmania in 1950: Motivation, Intention and Assimilation (2005) and Shaping Kingston: The Story of God’s Children in Kingston, which documents more than six decades of religious and community development.
Most articles linked through this portal were researched, written or compiled by Kees. They also incorporate the contributions of migrants, descendants and other researchers whose personal accounts form an essential part of the historical record.
The DACC has organised this material into thematic sections to make the relationships between the individual stories more accessible, while preserving the original research and personal accounts as closely as possible.
1. Migration and the establishment of Little Groningen
The origins of Little Groningen lay in the experiences of Dutch families emerging from the Second World War. Economic uncertainty, housing shortages, religious convictions and the desire for a secure future contributed to decisions to emigrate.
The Groningen Seven developed an organised migration plan centred on establishing a building enterprise in Tasmania.
The first settlers encountered practical challenges involving employment, land acquisition, subdivision, road construction and water supply. Their negotiations with Kingborough Council in September 1950 provide a valuable contemporary record of these difficulties.
The establishment of Little Groningen subsequently encouraged further migration and settlement, including families who moved to Kingston from other parts of Tasmania.
Related articles and research
- Little Groningen – Tasmania – Kees Wierenga’s account of the settlement’s establishment, including land acquisition and negotiations with Kingborough Council.
- Kingborough Council and the establishment of Little Groningen – 1950 – A detailed account of the September 1950 council negotiations concerning land subdivision, road construction, water supply and the establishment of the settlement. Based on contemporary council records documented by Kees Wierenga.
- Dutch Migration to Tasmania in 1950 – Motivation, Intention and Assimilation – Kees Wierenga’s academic study of the Groningen migration group and its experiences.
- For Faith and Ideology – Dutch migration to Australia – The religious and cultural motivations influencing Dutch migration.
- Dutch migrants in Penguin, Tasmania – Family histories illustrating migration networks and subsequent relocation within Tasmania.
2. The Reformed Church and religious life
Religious faith was central to the lives of many of the original Groningen migrants.
Their Reformed Christian background shaped not only church attendance and worship but also education, family life, social relationships and community responsibilities.
Initially, the migrants established connections with the local Presbyterian community. They subsequently organised a congregation within the Dutch Reformed tradition, with the Kingston congregation established in 1952.
Over the following decades, the congregation developed its own buildings, ministries and community activities. Its members also contributed to educational and welfare initiatives that extended beyond the church itself.
The history of the Kingston congregation is documented extensively in Kees Wierenga’s Shaping Kingston.
Related articles and research
- Shaping Kingston – The story of God’s children in Kingston – A substantial history of the Kingston Reformed Church and its community.
- Christian Reformed Churches of Australia – The development of the denomination in Australia.
- Newsletters from the First Reformed Church in Australia – Penguin, Tasmania, 1951–1957 – Contemporary records providing wider Tasmanian denominational context.
- The religious contribution of Dutch migrants to multicultural Australia – The wider Australian religious and social context.
3. Christian education and Calvin School
Education became one of the most significant expressions of the community’s religious convictions.
In 1954, members of the Dutch Reformed community participated in establishing the Christian Parent-Controlled Schools Association, which sought to provide education consistent with their Christian beliefs.
The development of Calvin School required considerable voluntary effort, fundraising and cooperation among parents and supporters.
Although closely associated with members of the Reformed Church, the school was established through a parent-controlled organisation rather than being an institution owned by the church.
The school’s development subsequently influenced Christian education beyond Kingston.
Related articles and research
- Calvin School Tasmania – Became a model for Australia – The establishment and development of Christian education in Kingston.
- Shaping Kingston – The story of God’s children in Kingston – Further information about the school and its relationship with the community.
4. Community welfare, aged care and voluntary organisations
The Dutch Reformed community’s activities extended beyond religious worship and education.
Members contributed to the establishment and support of community welfare initiatives, including Jireh House, aged care facilities and assistance for refugees and other people requiring support.
These activities reflected a commitment to practical community service and became part of the wider contribution of Dutch migrants to Tasmanian society.
The organisations developed through the work of individuals, families and voluntary associations, sometimes in cooperation with other community groups.
Related research
- Shaping Kingston – The story of God’s children in Kingston – Includes historical material concerning Jireh House, aged care and refugee assistance.
Further standalone articles on these organisations may be added to this section as material from the existing research collection is prepared for publication.
5. Building enterprises and the development of Kingston
The establishment of Little Groningen was closely connected with the building industry.
The original migrants organised the Australian Building Corporation to provide employment and construct homes. Their activities contributed to Kingston’s post-war residential development.
Other Dutch migrants subsequently established or participated in building businesses, extending the economic contribution of the original settlement.
The building industry also created opportunities for migrants to acquire skills, establish businesses and become financially independent.
Related articles and research
- Little Groningen – Tasmania – The original settlement and building plans.
- Dutch Migration to Tasmania in 1950 – Motivation, Intention and Assimilation – Historical research on the Australian Building Corporation and the founding migrants.
6. People and families of Little Groningen
The history of Little Groningen is preserved not only through institutional records but also through the experiences of the people who lived and worked in the community.
Kees Wierenga collected and documented numerous personal accounts, including recollections of wartime experiences, migration journeys, employment, housing, family life, church activities and community celebrations.
These accounts provide perspectives that are often absent from official historical records.
The following stories document individuals and families directly associated with Kingston or connected with the wider Dutch Reformed community in Tasmania.
The founding generation and early Kingston families
- Bart Jan Folkerts – Eulogy 1999 – One of the original Groningen migrants, a wartime Resistance member and a founding supporter of Christian education in Tasmania. Includes family recollections and his Dutch Resistance record.
- Elly Schuth – From bride to crafty great Tasmanian grandmother – Sister of Reg Doedens, whose personal history provides insights into migration, family life and the development of the Dutch community in Tasmania.
- Pieter Laning – From wartime survival to Little Groningen, Tasmania – One of the original Groningen migrants, Pieter Laning survived wartime persecution and the Lübeck Bay disaster of May 1945. After migrating to Tasmania in 1950, he helped establish Little Groningen and contributed to the community’s social life, including organising a memorable celebration in 1954.
- Egbert (Eb) Pinkster – A founder of Little Groningen, Tasmania – One of the original Groningen Seven who, together with Eerke van der Laan, travelled ahead to Tasmania in 1950 to investigate employment, housing and land. He helped establish the Australian Building Corporation and negotiated with Kingborough Council over the development of Little Groningen.
- Reg Doedens – A life of faith, resilience and community – Wartime experiences, migration, family life, business and contributions to the Kingston community.
- The van der Laan family’s wedding anniversary in Tasmania – A detailed account of a major community celebration in 1954, incorporating original documents and recollections.
- Tasmanian architect Dirk Bolt – Migration from Groningen, family connections and architectural work in Tasmania.
Families connected with the wider Kingston community
- Peter Herweynen – From Canadian chocolate to Antarctic builder – Migration, family connections, employment and involvement with the Christian Reformed community.
- The Rook family – A Tasmanian migration story – A first-person family account of migration, settlement and later connections with Kingston.
- Bram and Riet Vonk – From Holland to Hobart – Family experiences in Tasmania and later involvement in Kingston’s Reformed community.
- Martina van Munster (née Kruiff) – Migration to Tasmania – Wartime memories, migration and family experiences in Tasmania.
Wider Dutch-Tasmanian family connections
- Dutch migrants in Penguin, Tasmania – A collection of family histories, including migrants who subsequently relocated to southern Tasmania.
- Dutch settlers in Ulverstone, Tasmania – Migration experiences and connections between northern Tasmania and Kingston.
These individual histories will continue to be supplemented as further material from Kees Wierenga’s collection is brought together.
7. Historical publications and research resources
The following publications provide the principal historical foundation for this research portal.
Shaping Kingston – The story of God’s children in Kingston
Kees Wierenga’s extensive history of the Kingston Reformed Church and its associated community covers more than six decades of development.
It includes original documents, interviews, photographs and research concerning religious life, Christian education, welfare organisations and community activities.
Dutch Migration to Tasmania in 1950 – Motivation, Intention and Assimilation
Kees Wierenga’s 2005 University of Tasmania honours thesis examines the origins of the Groningen migration group, the motivations of its members and their experiences in Tasmania.
It provides important historical and social context for understanding the settlement and the development of the community.
The Dutch Tasmanian Connection
The wider collection assembled by Kees and Irene Wierenga contains personal stories, historical articles, photographs and research relating to Dutch people and communities throughout Tasmania.
Although not all the material relates directly to Kingston, it provides valuable context for the migration networks and social relationships that contributed to the development of Little Groningen.
Explore the Dutch Tasmanian Connection collection
Continuing the historical record
This portal brings together existing historical research and personal accounts relating to Little Groningen and the Dutch Reformed community at Kingston.
The collection is intended to remain a continuing resource. Additional articles, documents and personal histories may be incorporated as they become available.
Some subjects are documented extensively, while others are represented by shorter accounts or references to historical sources. These references are retained to assist future researchers wishing to investigate particular families, institutions or events.
The Dutch Australian Cultural Centre welcomes additional historical information, photographs and personal recollections that may contribute to preserving the history of this distinctive Dutch-Australian community.
