Arthur Povey
It is not very often we hear the stories of migrants who were employed by Commonwealth Hostels in the Illawarra, yet their migration history is just as valuable. Their reasons…
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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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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),…
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…