Immigration Stories
Throughout history stories have been used to illuminate, to educate, to recount, to challenge and to engage. Every individual’s life experience is unique and dynamic, particularly for those of us who have journeyed far from our homes to establish new lives in foreign countries.
Australia’s migrant history has enabled us to develop into the strong nation we are today. Personal stories and anecdotes are an important opportunity to enrich the public record and to embellish our history. Immigration Place Australia encourages the collection of immigrant stories. By giving a voice to our immigrants, we hope to record significant experiences with increased depth and nuance. We envision an opportunity to connect generations and to build community via a comprehensive record of the distinctive immigration footprint of Australia.
IPA’s mission is to continue to collect stories until completion of the construction of Immigration Place in Canberra. At that time, subject to the agreement of the National Archives of Australia those stories will be transferred to their website – Destination Australia.
We encourage you to record your stories or those of your ancestors.
All Stories
-
Michael Tehan born 1803, was married in 1835 to Mary Loughlin born 1812 in Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, daughter of John & Annie Loughlin (nee Whelan).
It is believed that Michael had a farm in Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, dairying and potato growing and…
Michael TEHAN, IRELAND, 1861
-
Franz left his homeland of Schweckhausen, near Paderborn, Germany for England in 1850 aged 20 years for unknown reasons. Early in 1853 he left London on the sailing ship “Hanover”, arriving in Melbourne on 11th September 1853.
Franz…
Franz Anton Mannes, Germany, 1853
-
George Robertson Pirie was born in Aberdeen, Scotland on 6th February 1907. His family was poor. His father was killed on the Menin Road near Ypres, in France in the first few weeks of the first World War. George was seven at the time of his fathers death.…
George Pirie, Scotland, 1927
-
[Reason for leaving homeland]
I married an Australian and I always wanted to see Australia. I was young and everything was an adventure.
[About the Journey]
Left Southhampton on a cold November day with chilblains – on board the Ellenis a Greek…
Jacqui Howard, England, 1966
-
Harry and Zus van Gerwen found that the future in Holland for their six children was very bleak, judging by the financial difficulties they themselves were experiencing, and the prospects of promotion for himself as a stoker was almost non-existent.…
Harry and Zus van Gerwen, The Netherlands, 1955
-
I was eight years old and home was a small second storey apartment in Amsterdam. Cooking was done on a primus single burner stove in a tiny narrow kitchen. Space was at a premium for 2 adults and 3 children. The need for better accommodation, wages , prospects…
John Robken, The Netherlands, 1954
-
Miro Vitek was born in 1928 in Ruzomberok, Czechoslovakia. His mother was unmarried and they were very poor. During World War 2 Slovakia was a puppet regime of Nazi Germany. After school Miro was apprenticed to a plumber. Towards the end of the war …
Miro Vitek, Czechoslovakia, 1952
-
Major General Sir Neville Howse VC KCB KCMG FRCS
Neville Reginald Howse was born at Stogursey, Somerset and studied medicine at London Hospital. In 1889 he migrated to NSW practising in Newcastle & later Taree. He went to England in 1895 to gain…
Sir Neville Howse VC, England, 1889
-
Born at Lislaird, a small townland near Castlederg in County Tyrone, his family was of Scots-Irish descent & his parents were Arthur Robb, a farmer & Sarah (nee Bird). Aged 19, John, together with two brothers, Robert, 18 & Samuel,…
John Robb, Northern Ireland, 1854
-
My Story of Migration to Australia
I am one of those lucky ones who has had an opportunity to travel in Australia. I never dreamed I would live to this country. When I landed in Canberra in August it was a very windy and cold day. I remembered that I was shivering…
Rupsa Neogy, India, 2002
-
Samuel Albert Mayell was born on 13 June 1882 in Bath, Somerset, England. He grew up there and later became a stone mason, like his father and grandfather before him. He married Ellen Lydia Davis on 6 August 1906 in Wesley Chapel, Salisbury, England.…
Samuel Albert Mayell, England, 1912
-
Alexander Munro was born in Tullich, Kilmuir Easter, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland on 1st September 1836. When he grew up he went to work for the Duke of Sutherland at Dornoch Castle. It was here that he began his training as a horticulturalist. From …
Alexander Munro, Scotland, c. 1870
-
David Roche was born in Kilkenny Ireland on 09 June 1821.
On 09 May 1846 he married Margaret Nolan, who was born in Kilkenny, Ireland on 26 May 1826.
They were married at the Roman Catholic Church, Scarsborough, Yorkshire on 09 May 1846. (Family Bible).…
David & Margaret Roche/Roach, Ireland, c.1953
-
James Diggins was Baptised on 13.02.1815, in St. Leonards, Shoreditch, London . He was the son of Richard Diggins and Rose Murphy, who married at Christchurch Spittalfields. It is believed that his ancestors may have come to London from Spain, or…
James Diggins, London, England, 1832
-
Thomas McCauley, was born on 02 September 1844, at Strabane in County Tyrone, in Northern Ireland. Little is known of Thomas\’ family, or the reason he left Ireland.
He arrived in Melbourne in 1867, and married Sarah Ann Plummer (of The Burra,…
Thomas McCauley, Ireland, 1867
-
[Reason for leaving homeland]
Not known
[About the Journey]
Sailed from Plymouth on 21st May 1852 after 3 months and 4 days arrived at Portland. The Government supplied a round tent. William joined the Police Force in 1856 and was transferred to Port…
william and mary annett, England, 1852
-
Anthony (sometimes recorded as Antony, the Irish pronunciation), born in Milford, County Cork, & baptised a Catholic, was the eldest of 6 children of Mark Anthony Stokes (corn merchant) & Ellen Murphy who married in County Cork, Ireland…
Anthony Stokes, Ireland, 1859
-
(This is a snap shot biography of two unusual migrants who I suspect do not fit the usual pattern)
Elizabeth and Mary Phillips were sisters who were born and brought up in the small mining village of Pontlottyn in Wales. Elizabeth was born in 1894 and…
Elizabeth and Mary Phillips, United Kingdom, 1958
-
Robert was born on 5 May 1837 at Drumglass, in Balmaghie Parish, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, the second child and first son of farmer and crofter David and his wife Janet McJannett (nee Crosbie). Robert joined the British Army in 1827, and later…
Robert McJannett, Scotland, 1837
-
PART 2
Crossing the Great Australian Bight, we encountered 4 days of frightening stormy seas and for some, exposure to harrowing sea sickness before arriving at Port Melbourne.
My first 9 months were spent in Adelaide and then I moved to Melbourne,…
Attila Ürményházi, Hungary, 1960
-
PART 1
I was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on the 9th September, 1938 from ethnic Hungarian Roman Catholic parents originally from Budapest. My father was a tradesman hat maker, later an industrialist in that field, a pioneer who had established the …
Attila Ürményházi, Hungary, 1960
-
Alexander (38) his wife Catherine (37) and their three children Elizabeth 12, Finlay 10, and Mary 5 years, arrived in Sydney on the ship “Blond”on 27th December 1849, paying Three pounds Ten shillings for the trip – they arrived…
Alexander McDonald, Inverness, Scotland., 1849
-
Thomas Massey was committed for desertion from the army and then charged in company of two others with breaking and entering the house of Thomas Hammon near Knutsford in 1789. He was sentenced to death at Chester, England on 3rd September, 1789. Sentence…
THOMAS MASSEY, CHASHIRE, ENGLAND, 1791
-
My father was born in Jackson Michigan USA. A small town, 1 hour from Detroit. His family was a fairly poor working class family with 7 kids one which died very young
His story started when he arrived in Australia on 30th Jan 1960 for a two year posting …
Robert Field, USA, 1964
-
Isaac Michael Long was baptised on August 24, 1790 in Mells, Somerset, England and died at Port Macquarie, New South Wales on September 12, 1840. His eldest son, Michael Long, was also transported, and arrived in Hobart, Tasmania on October 26, 1838…
Isaac Michael Long, England, 1837
-
Michael Long, was born on January 24, 1817 in Mells, Somerset, England, the eldest of the eight children of Isaac Michael Long who was transported for theft. His descendants are connected by marriage to those of Garrett Mallon and Peter Bermingham,…
Michael Long, England, 1838
-
Garrett Mallon was born in 1778 in Ballymahon, Co. Longford, Ireland. He was a plowman and shearer. His descendants are connected by marriage to those of Isaac Michael and Michael Long, Mary Bermingham and the Callans and Grants of Canowindra, New…
Garrett Mallon, Ireland, 1829
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- …
- 61
- Next Page »