Albert Vanderplancke

Not all migrants who came to the Illawarra would stay. There were those who chose to return to their homeland or move to other destinations in the South Pacific. The…

Read more

PHOTO ROMA STUDIO

PHOTO ROMA STUDIO: MARTINA AND BALLESI For many Italian migrants who lived in the Illawarra region post-World War 2, Photo Roma Photographic Studio would play an integral part of family…

Read more

Loan Nittel

A decision whether to flee your homeland to escape conflict or persecution and embark on a treacherous journey in the hope at the end of that journey you will be…

Read more

Anna De Peron

Anna De Peron was born Italy and migrated to Australia with her parents, Giuseppe and Vittoria, in 1961.  The family settled in Illawarra after first being sent to Bonegilla.  This…

Read more

Robert John Edmund (Bob) Tyghe

Berkeley Hostel, 1957   Robert John Edmund (Bob) Tyghe left England in 1957 with his parents, Robert Neil and Ethel Mary Tyghe and his sister Amanda Jane.  Both Robert Neil…

Read more

John and Brenda Theobald

Berkeley Hostel, 1959 My wife Brenda and I, together with our 14 month old twin boys, Ian and Peter, departed Tilbury, Essex in England on 6 June 1959 onboard the…

Read more

Tony Hart

Balgownie Hostel, 1965 My parents, Derek and Margaret (Peggy) Hart, my two older brothers Laurie and Chris, my younger sister Jackie and I left Wales, UK, in 1965.  We travelled…

Read more

Hermine Rainow

Hermine Rainow and her Legacy to Wollongong Migrants Mrs Cosmopolitan” was how Hermine Rainow described herself when she was featured in an article that appeared in the Illawarra Mercury on…

Read more

Marzia Bonacina Zochil

Marzia Bonacina Zochil & The Bonacina Family Balgownie Migrant Hostel, 1961 We left Italy in 1961 arriving in Australia in March.  My parents, Giulia and Efrem Bonacina decided to migrate…

Read more

Andrew Best

Balgownie Hostel, 1969 I was 11 years old and my family decided to emigrate from England.  My father was interviewed by BBC Two on the boat.  Rain to Southampton and…

Read more

Eric Taylor

Balgownie Hostel, 1954 In 1954 my Mum (Lavinia, 37) and Dad (Alan, 37) decided to emigrate to Australia.  At that time, they had three sons: David (15), me, Eric (10),…

Read more

William Gartley (Binks) McGill

Balgownie Hostel, 1952 William (Binks) McGill was my Uncle, whom I never met, as he sailed to Australia a few weeks before I was born.  From Australian Immigration Records I…

Read more