Share your story, read about other migrants’ memories and explore our photos – to see if you recognise someone you know. Between 1946 and 1999 government photographers snapped 22,000 images of people arriving and living in Australia. You can view them online in the National Archives’ collection.
Explore the collection
Pages
Video portraits
Browse videos- Series: Dutch Australia Shared Cultural Heritage
Cees, Ina and Erwin Huig, Dutch migrants to Australia - Series: Dutch Australia Shared Cultural Heritage
Gerard and Marretje van Wezel, Dutch migrants to Australia - Series: Dutch Australia Shared Cultural Heritage
Sherry Wright, Dutch migrant to Australia - Series: Dutch Australia Shared Cultural Heritage
Petronella Wensing, Dutch migrant to Australia - Series: Dutch Australia Shared Cultural Heritage
Stephanie Brantz, Dutch migrant heritage - Series: A Ticket to Paradise? Exhibition
Vera Marek - Series: A Ticket to Paradise? Exhibition
Seraphin Nyirenda - Series: A Ticket to Paradise? Exhibition
Maria-Lourdes (Noonee) Doronila - Series: A Ticket to Paradise? Exhibition
Lam Tac Tam
Personal stories
Add Your Own Story
Vladimir and his family (Jirina his wife, and Marcella his daughter) found asylum in Australia f
United KingdomJohn Albert Martin, his wife Mavis and son Donald, arrived in Australia onboard the Oronsay in Ju
South AfricaBorn in 1901 and standing 88.9cm tall, Maria Peters was variously known as ‘Princess Ubangi’, ‘a
AustraliaThe following day I was given a very lengthy series of tests in maths, English, solving problems,
NetherlandsWhen you’re not sure what to expect when you arrive, 17,000 kilometres is a long way to travel.
LuxembourgWe were loaded into Buses, it took more than two hours to arrive in Villawood hostel, some houses
ItalyAs with other milestone migrant arrivals, there were grand plans to welcome Antonia Bellomarino a
JapanImmediately following World War II, the Japanese brides of Australian servicemen were precluded f
United KingdomI arrived at the hostel late afternoon it was getting cooler and after London it was as different
United Kingdom(Mitchell Librarian 1993-2001, Associate Director State Records NSW 2001-2008 and Director State
AustraliaConstruction began on the Snowy Hydro Electric Scheme on 17 October 1949.
Sri LankaThe Colombo Plan, launched in 1951, was an intergovernmental program designed to strengthen relat
GermanyDad and a mate worked hard on the side, cutting timber, breaking coal, anything, to earn a few ex
NetherlandsI (Frans Alexander Udo) was born on March 29 1950 in Amsterdam Holland.
EgyptThe Egyptian ship SS Misr arrived in Melbourne in April 1947 with 624 men, women and chi
United Kingdom(Mitchell Librarian 1993-2001, Associate Director State Records NSW 2001-2008 and Director State
NetherlandsAfter a half a year my friend decided to move to another place and I had to decide what to do, st
AustraliaTo leave the only place you've ever called home and saying goodbye to all your loving family and
HungaryBetween 1947 and 1971 the Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre accommodated more than
NetherlandsLike many new arrivals, Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre was the Wolswinkels' firs
