ill (b/w), p.158., lists.non-fictionA Short History of Polish soldiers migration to Australia after WWII. Part I The Surplus Heroes 5 The Foundation of the Polish Republic operating in exile 7 Formation of military 10 Change in relations with the Allies 18 The Polish military in the closing stages of the war 21 The consequences of the Yalta Conference 22 1945 Elections in Britain 24 The Polish Resettlement Corps [in UK] 28 The notion of "Betrayal" 31 The Future 32 Part II Destination Australia 35 Background 37 Polish Armed Forces in the West 39 The "Polish Issue" 43 Polish Resettlement Corps (PRC) 49 Solution? 52 Portrayal of the Poles 54 Australian government decision-making 57 SS Asturias - September 1947 and December 1947 Tasmania: Hydro-Electric Commission 64 SS Strathnaver - August 1948 64 Hobart 69 Victoria 71 Queensland 71 Manus Island 71 South Australia 72 New South Wales 72 Asturias - August 1948 - Sydney 76 Asturias - November 1948 - Western Australia 78 Life at the Tasmanian Hydro-Electric Commission 79 Citizenship 85 Deportation 91 Australian veterans groups 93 Polish veterans groups in Australia 96 Establishing a life 100 Families 103 Polish communities 105 Annexes 109. Includes photographs, facsimiles and maps.immigration - australia - polish community, australia - displaced persons

In 1949 the HELLENIC PRINCE with its 3 hospitals, 2 cinemas, and air conditioned accommodation was chartered by the International Refugee Organisation to transport displaced persons from Europe to Australia. Its first trip was to Sydney where it arrived with 1000 passengers on 5 December 1949. On the third trip it left Naples on 23 March 1950, and arrived in Fremantle on 20 April 1950, and in Melbourne on 25 April 1950. The men and women were separated for the voyage with my father sleeping on a hammock in a large room with other men, while my mother, my brother, and I had bunks in a shared cabin. On board were displaced persons ex Bagnoli Camp Italy, some of whom later built their bungalows on the grassy and rocky paddocks near Sunshine Victoria, and began to establish a new life in a new country. A few of the families that arrived on the third trip and purchased land in the Dunkeld Ave - Sandford Ave area of North Sunshine (Birmingham Estate) were Janczak, Kolanowicz, Mroz, Pawlak, Rasztabiga, Skrobalak, Szydlowski, Witkowski, and Zielinski. Some friends settled elsewhere in Sunshine. The family Tabaka went to West Sunshine just over the Derby Rd Bridge, while the family Wojcik went to Ardeer. The ship first started service in 1929 for the Royal Australian Navy as the HMAS ALBATROSS. It had a standard displacement of 4,800 tons and was 443 feet 7 inches (135.2 metres) long, and its top speed during trials reached 22 knots (41 km/hr). It was built at Cockatoo Island Dockyard as Australia's first Aircraft Carrier (seaplanes), but the aircraft that it was designed for were retired just before the ship went into service. A new plane specifically designed to work with the Albatross began operations after the ship was decommissioned in 1933, and placed into reserve in Sydney Harbour. Seaplanes continued to operate from the anchored ship. (Click on the Link 'HMAS Albatross (1)' situated above the Object Registration number to view pictures of the HMAS Albatross on the Navy web site). In 1938 the ship was recommissioned and transferred to the Royal Navy as part payment for the light cruiser Hobart. The ship then did military service for the Royal Navy during World War 2. It did patrol and escort duties in the southern Atlantic, and from mid 1942 in the Indian Ocean. By early 1944 the ship was converted so that it could repair landing craft and other support vessels off Sword and Juno beaches. The ship managed to return 132 craft into service and to save 79 others from total loss. On 11 August 1944 Albatross was torpedoed with the loss of either 50 or 66 personnel, but was able to be towed back to Portsmouth. After repairs she did a short service as a minesweeper depot ship, and following that was placed into reserve on 3 August 1945. In August 1946 the ship was sold for commercial use but the plans to convert it into a luxury liner or a floating cabaret fell through. The ship was again sold on 14 November 1948 to the British-Greek Yannoulatos Group, who renamed it HELLENIC PRINCE in recognition of the birth of Prince Charles and his Greek heritage. After conversion into a passenger ship the Hellenic Prince made several trips to Australia transporting displaced persons, however apparently not all trips were pleasant for the passengers. In the on board newsletter 'Kangaroo' dated 5 January 1951, the ship's master P. C. King expressed his indignation about the behaviour of passengers and made accusations of mutiny. According to some immigrants the conditions were appalling and overcrowded with 1200 passengers. Passengers were supposedly required to work and were paid with Woodbine cigarettes. The drinking water ran out, the freezer broke down, and fresh food that was brought on board went to the crew. Sea sickness was rife because the ship was rarely level due to malfunctioning pumps. (The newsletter 'Kangaroo' can be viewed at the Museum Victoria web site by clicking the Link 'Newsletter - Kangaroo'). In 1953 during the Mau Mau uprising the Hellenic Prince was used to transport troops to Kenya, and in 1954 the ship came to an end in a scrap yard at Hong Kong. THE ABOVE INFORMATION WAS COMPILED FROM; (1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Albatross_(1928) (accessed 11/2/2013), (2) An article by Graeme Andrews found at http://www.afloat.com.au/afloat-magazine/2011/july-2011/The_boat_people_of_the _forties_and_fifties#.UuYY6ou4apo (accessed 27/1/14), (3) http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/items/273166/newsletter-kangaroo-hellenic-prince-5-jan-1951 (accessed 27/1/14), (4) National Archive search starting at; www.naa.gov.au/collection/search/index.aspx (accessed 27/1/14), (5) http://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3864781978 (accessed 29/1/14). Hellenic Prince has a significance to Sunshine Victoria because some of the displaced people from Europe, who arrived in Melbourne on Anzac Day 1950, were among the first people to settle in the grassy and rocky paddock areas of North Sunshine. These settlers established a residential suburban area out of the paddocks. In those early days there were no services and the planned roads were basically just drawings on a map. The ship is also significant because it was named in recognition of the birth of Prince Charles. In the ship's former life as the HMAS Albatross the significance is that it was built in Australia as our country's first Aircraft Carrier (seaplanes).New photograph made from a scanned copy of a circa 1950 Post Card featuring the ship on calm water.Hellenic Prince / Hong Konghellenic prince, migrant ship, displaced persons, refugees, international refugee organisation, bagnoli camp, hmas albatross, yannoulatos group

In 1955 the Polish Community in Chile wanted to Commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the ending of the 2nd World War but, since it was not a happy occasion, as Poland had been betrayed and placed in the Soviet sphere of influence, they chose to create a Pennant with a plea for the Patron Icon of Eastern Poland - Our Lady of the Sharp/Morning Gate (Matka Boska Ostrobramska/Zaranna) in Vilnius (Wilno) - to give them a new Miracle on the Vistula, in reference to an epic battle which took place on 15th August 1922 on the banks of the Vistula (Wisla) River in which the Polish troops defeated the Soviet Army and turned back the march of Communism to the West. This particular Pennant was purchased by Stanislawa Zamecznik (nee Zakrzewska), while living in Chile after deportation from her birth place in Sianozatki near Bychov (Bychow) to Schweningen in Germany from which they emigrated to South America as Displaced Persons. It was brought to Australia when the Zakrzewski Family emigrated from Chile in 1956, first to Port Augusta and then subsequently to Sydney.It is significant in that it tells the story of the aspirations of the Polish Diaspora displaced from it's Homeland in the Kresy Region and scattered throughout the World, including the Americas and Australia.Pennant of red cloth with screen printing in white, mustard yellow and black hung on copper wire with gold cord Front: Polish inscription "KROLOWO POLSKI / BLAGAMY CIE O NOWY / CUD NAD WISLA / SANTIAGO DE CHILE / 15.VIII.1955" Back: Spanish inscription "LA CASA DE BANDERIN AHUMADA 61"polish pennant polski proporczyk orzel eagle matka boska ostrobramska zaranna our lady of vilnus santiago chile cud nad wisla miracle on the vistula

The Polish born artist, designer and filmmaker, Stanislaus Ostoja-Kotkowski (1922-1944), who arrived in Melbourne in 1949 on the 'Fairsea', a ship carrying displaced persons from Europe and the Baltic States. He sought employment in architectural and design practices, and also enrolled in classes at the National Gallery School. From 1952 until 1953 Ostoja-Kotkowski had a brief, but productive, period working as a designer in the Prestige Fabric Design Studio in Melbourne. Ann Carew, 2017The textile design has aesthetic significance as an example of the early Australian work of noted emigre artist, designer and filmmaker, Stanislaus Ostoja-Kotkowski, and it has historical significance for its association with the Prestige's Textile Design Studio, and the studio's art director, Gerhard Herbst. Small sample of pale green rayon fabric with a bold, repeating geometric pattern printed in black and white.emigre, polish, design, textile design, rmit design archives

it was given by Red Cross to the Polish family with one child in the displaced persons camp in Paderbonn, Germany, 1950 prior to migration to Australiaone of a few items of this kind which has survived to present daysglass"made in USA 3 A 45" mark on the bottom of the bottlebaby milk bottle, refugee, red cross

this item belongs to the Polish family; it was home made in the displaced persons camp in Paderbonn, Germany; the family arrived in Australia in 1950 and settled down in Melbourneone of a few items of this kind which has survived to present dayssteel, sharp perforations, rustedgrater, migration, displaced person camp

Public art commission located at Progress Park on the Black Rock Foreshore.Inscribed with text that is an extract from a verse sung by Lithuanian displaced persons sailing to Australia having fled their homeland after Russian occupation following World War II. The text is in an ancient Runic typeface, translated in English, reads: "Faustas Sadauskas created Beacon two thousand [and] four years / Let the Blowing Wind Who Taketh the Ship Away Take Me Away".beacon, sculpture, faustas sadauskas, bayside coastal trail, marble, public art, black rock, foreshore, beach road, progress park, ship, rudder

History of the post World War II Migrant Ship Fairsea. The Fairsea made several journeys to Australia under the International Refugee Organisation (IRO) from 1949 to 1951, carrying displaced persons affected by World War II. She was later chartered by the Australian Government to transport assisted immigrants from Britain and also New Zealand between 1949 and 1969.MRs B SmythA framed oil painting of the migrant ship MV FairseaFairseamv fairsea, migrant ships

This pair of milk bottles, produced for the Model Dairy in Cotham Road, Kew, were donated by Vik Sabaliauskas. They belonged to his father who worked at Model Dairy in the 1950s and 1960s. Vik wrote about his father: "As for my father, his whole life story is interesting. He was part of the big immigration program after WW2. He was a displaced person in Germany like lots of others who came out looking for a new life. Our family name is actually SABALIAUSKAS which is of Lithuanian descent. My Dad was also named Vik (Viktoras). He was known as Big Vik and I was little Vik. He arrived in Australia in 1947 and then did his 2 years of work organised by the Government and then he came to Melbourne. We lived in Tyler St Preston and he rode his pushbike to and from Kew every working day for years. In my estimation that was about 13 kms for about 6 or 7 years. Imagine that happening today. Freezing Winter mornings and hot Summer afternoons. His English was poor but he had a great work ethic like all European immigrants. His duties related to maintaining and operating all the machines. One story that he told me about was that after I was born (in 1959) he made friends with one of the drivers who delivered milk to the dairy. He asked him to get a container of milk from the farmer everyday which was just for me. I remember going to the Model Dairy Family Christmas parties which were always well patronised. I also remember visiting him in the PANCH Hospital (Bell Street Preston) where he was treated for kidney stones caused by drinking very creamy milk. He wasn't happy when he was told by the doctor to cut back on milk. My Dad was one month short of his 95th birthday when he died and he lived a pretty healthy life." (2019)Kew was a major milk producing district in the Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries, with three major dairy farms lining the Yarra between Studley Park in the west and Burke Road in the east. In addition to these dairy producers, there were also a number of accredited dairy retailers in the suburb. The largest and most enduring of these was the Model Dairy founded by the Kew pioneer James Venn Morgan. Milk bottles that include the name of the producer or retailer are historically significant as they represent a period in Kew's history before the mass production of milk in the second half of the Twentieth Century. A number of these named bottles have the additional attribute of rarity.Pair of plastic milk bottles, designated on the front as to be used in the refigerator on on picnics. One bottle has a red screw on lid and the other a green lid. The bottles are semi-transparent. [The record also includes a photograph of Vic Sabaliauskas, provided by his son. The photograph dates from the period when he was employed at the Model Dairy].Impressed on the front of both bottles: "Unbreakable picnic and refrigerator bottle made expressly for Model Dairy Pty Ltd Cotham Rd Kew"dairies - kew, model dairy - cotham road - kew (vic)

This suit was tailor-made for Latvian dancer, choreographer and dance teacher Vija Vetra, who lived at the Old Hall, 93-95 Bay Street, Brighton and ran a dance academy at 97 Bay Street during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Born in Riga, Latvia in 1923, at the age of sixteen Vija ran away from home in order to study classical, character and modern dance at the Vienna Academy of Music and Performing Arts. She spent several years performing on European stages. When Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1944, more than 100,000 Latvians fled, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Vija's sister, mother and aunt were among them, managing to join her in Vienna. The following year, all four had to flee again when the Soviets moved into Austria. Escaping to Bavaria, they spent three years in displaced person camps before emigrating to Sydney as refugees in 1948. Vija found success as a dancer in Sydney. She toured Australia and New Zealand with the Bodenwieser Ballet, formed a Latvian folk dancing group and established a dancing school. By the mid-1950s she had gained recognition as a recitalist in her own right. She developed a passion for Indian classical dance. In the late 1950s she moved to Victoria. She opened a dance school in Bay Street, Brighton, while continuing to perform on stage in productions such as the musical 'Kismet' and the ballet 'Corroboree'. In 1959 she starred in the four-part live ABC television program 'Music and Dance'. She left Australia in 1964 for a tour of the United States and Canada, ultimately settling in New York City. Interviewed in the 'ABC Weekly' in 1957, Vetra described her taste in clothing as minimalist, saying she preferred to own as few clothes as possible to save the trouble of deciding what to wear: "And no bows or extravagances, but always a simple line."Two-piece women's suit made of maroon corded silk; comprising fitted jacket (.1) and straight skirt (.2). Jacket fastens with one large black faceted glass button. Jacket lined with pink satin; skirt unlined. vija vetra, migration, brighton, refugee, dancer, 1940s

Bonegilla operated as an army base from September 1940 and by 1943 was expanded to 848 buildings, including a general hospital. It provided training for small arms instructors, signallers, transport workers, bomb disposal and gas warfare personnel. In a response to the need to house the growing number of displaced persons coming to Australia, the Bonegilla Reception and Training Centre began operating in 1947. For some time it was a shared facility but the Army withdrew temporarily from Bonegilla in 1949, whilst still retaining ownership of the site. From 1949-65 Bonegilla Reception and Training Centre operated without a military presence. However, in the late 1960s and Australia’s commitments to the Vietnam War and pressed by the need to find accommodation to train men, especially National Servicemen, the Army negotiated with the Department of Immigration to take over several blocks at Bonegilla in 1965. Thirty-five huts were acquired by the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps as a Recruit Training Centre in which National Servicemen and recruits could attend 10-week ordnance courses. Shortly afterwards additional huts were acquired by the School of Military Survey, which established field-survey practical training areas and special astronomical observation sites as it began conducting courses in surveying. Instructors and trainees co-located at Bonegilla with migrant reception centre. In 1971 the Reception Centre closed and the site reverted to the Army. Progressively after 1971 the Army undertook a major site redevelopment with the construction of Latchford Barracks as the Army Apprentice School. Later Latchford Barracks was redeveloped into part of the Army Logistic Training Centre. Block 19 of the Mirant Reception Centre later became the Bonegilla Migrant Experience Heritage Park.This item depicts a heritage listed historical site located in the Wodonga district.A large poster size representation of the variety of buildings at Bonegilla, Victoria when it served as the location for the Royal Australian School of Military Survey. The insignia of the Royal Australian Survey Corps is featured in the top left hand corner.Top left corner: Insignia of the Royal Australian Survey Corps At bottom of sketches: "The School of Military Survey, Bonegilla Victoria / January 1966 - December 1982migrant reception centre bonegilla, army at bonegilla, australian military

Sea chests held all the worldy belongings of migrant families, when they migrated by ship. Families were eligible for up to two chests depending on the size of the family. From the markings, it appears that there was a second chest, but this is the only chest from this family in our collection. This chest would have been purchased or built by the Zarins family and loaded at the harbour from which the migrant ship left - in this instance that location is unknown. A basic online search reveals that Villach-Austria refers to the DP camp (displaced persons' camp) that the Zarins family originated from. Maybe the chest had been picked up from there, or there were a group of camp residents coming to Australia, we can only guess why this is written on the chest at all. Heavy wooden chest with metal handles on both sides and lid is missing. Metal bands with nails fixed to front and back and sides.Villach-Austria, N-196, 2 piece, AUGUSTS ZARINS, Australia (painted on side of chest in white paint, by hand)wood, wooden, chest, sea chest, zarins

non-fiction"The history of Bonegilla near Albury - initially a pastoral run, then a grazing property, then, after World War II a migrant transit centre". Bonegilla is the ‘deep waterhole’ on the Murray river. First it was a resource-rich tribal country, then came the explorers and the squatters and the mixed farmers and the Australian Army – a procession of occupants for over 100 years. Arthur Calwell, Australia’s first Minister for immigration changed Bonegilla again in 1947 and made it the first Australian home for 320,000 migrants mostly from war-ravished Europe. Ann Tündern-Smith is the first of the Australian-born children who resulted from Calwell’s post-war population programs. Her mother was one of the Estonians selected for the ‘General Stewart Hentzelman’ which brought the first Displaced Persons here in November 1947.bonegilla migrant reception centre, immigrants, bonegilla

non-fictionIn this book the author discusses the effects of one-time Minister for Immigration Arthur Calwell's approach to choose fair-haired people from the Baltic countries to persuade Australians to accept non-British migrants who were housed at Bonegilla.bonegilla migrant reception centre., arthur calwell, immigration australia, bonegilla, post-war immigration policy

Many displaced people who migrated to Australia after World War 2 brought similar tubs with them as part of their luggage. The tubs were valued by the migrants because they were used for washing clothes and other laundry items, and for bathing children and even adults. The tub in our possession was brought out to Australia in 1950 by the Pierzak family who eventually settled in North Sunshine, Victoria. The following story about the Pierzak family has been provided by the daughter Halina Wlodarczyk (nee Pierzak). The father Stanislaw Pierzak was born on the 26th of July 1916 in Zbrza, and the mother Teodozja (Teodozia) Szalas on the 5th of March 1919 in Goleciny, both villages in the Kielce district of Poland. In 1940 they were both taken by the German Army to work as slave labour on farms in Germany. Stanislaw worked in the Saxonia area and Teodozja near Dillingen. The work was hard, and when Teodozja contracted pneumonia she was told that she would not be given any food if she did not work. After the war the displaced persons, as they were called, were settled in various barracks and camps organised by the United States Army. Stanislaw and Teodozja married in Gablingen, Bavaria, Germany, and Halina was born in the camp at Gablingen in 1949. The displaced people were given the choice of several countries if they wanted to migrate from war torn Germany, and so the Pierzak family chose Australia. The Pierzak family set sail from Naples, Italy aboard the ship General M. B. Stewart and arrived in Sydney on the 17th of April 1950. The men and women had to stay in separate quarters, and many passengers were so sick that they did not think they would survive the journey. In Australia they lived in migrant camps in NSW at Bathurst, Orange, Parkes and Cowra. To pay off their fares to Australia migrants were required to work under contract for 2 years. Stanislaw Pierzak worked in Broken Hill NSW returning to visit his family every 3 to 4 months. The son John was born in the Red Cross building at the Parkes camp in 1952. In 1953 the whole family moved to Melbourne and lived in a converted garage in Victor Street, North Sunshine. In 1954 the family bought a bungalow on a block of land in Compton Parade, North Sunshine, where eventually they built a house. Stanislaw Pierzak worked at Steelweld in Ashley Street, Braybrook travelling there on his bicycle, while Teodozja Pierzak found work at Smorgon in West Footscray. Stanislaw and Teodozja Pierzak lived in North Sunshine for the rest of their lives, and Mrs Pierzak always said that Sunshine was the best place in the world.Tubs like this which belonged to displaced people were highly valued possessions and are of historic significance. They were brought out to Australia after World War 2 by many migrating displaced families. The tubs were used for washing activities in the camps in Germany, and the migrant camps in Australia, and also when people lived in bungalows in Australia before they built houses with laundries and bathrooms.Oval shaped galvanised iron tub with two rigid handles, one at each end. The top of the tub is larger than the base. The galvanising is deteriorating in some parts which show a whitish appearance. There are some small dents, and a few chips in the galvanising where surface rust has appeared.The number 70 is stamped on both sides.washing tub, galvanised tub, laundry, bath, displaced persons, immigration, general m. b. stewart, galvanized tub, pierzak, galvanised wash tub

Henrika (Henny) Kuljurgies was born in Lithuania on 20th May 1929 and came to Australia in 1948 on the USAT General Stewart, the third transport carrying displaced people from the Baltic countries. Like many thousands of migrants she spent a short time at Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre. . Henrika was raised by Margarita Vrubliauskiene who was her aunt although always referred to as her mother. Her family was torn apart by World War II and the invasion of her homeland. Under new immigration policies implemented by Arthur Caldwell, Australia offered a home to refugees from the Baltic States. It was initially easier to be accepted into Australia as a single person as you could be placed more easily for work. On 30 October 1947, Margarita Vrubliauskiene departed on the first transport to arrive in Australia, the USAT General Stuart Heintzelman. Henrika who was 18 years old at that time, remained in Germany until her passage could also be arranged. Also aboard this first transport was a young man Alfredas Kuljurgies who Henrika was to later marry. After a short time at Bonegilla, Henrika was transferred to Mulwala House in Canberra where Margarita had already been relocated. Mulwala House provided accommodation for the growing number of public servants in Canberra and Margarita was working there as a house maid. Whilst at Bonegilla Henrika had met Alfredas Kuljurgies and although she was not initially attracted to Alfred his persistence in courting her finally paid off. They married in Canberra on 14th September 1948. They had two sons, Fred and Charlie and settled into a new life at Little River (Killara). As well as acquiring some land in the area, Alfred established his business, Bandiana Motors in 1950. Alfred and Henrika were both granted Australian Citizenship on 28th June 1956. As her sons grew older, Henrika (Henny) became more involved in her passion of painting. She painted landscapes which captured the area around her new home. Henrika became affectionately know as the “bird Lady” as her paintings always included a magpie. Her work is held in many galleries, homes and public buildings including the hospital where she passed away on 27th October 2010. In 2018 a small park in Killara not far from her former home, studio Bandiana Motors, was named in her honour. These items are significant because they help to document the story of a Lithuanian migrant in Wodonga.A collection of black and white images and articles about Henrika Kuljurgies, her mother Margarita and husband Alfred.henrika kuljurgies, bonegilla migrants