The struggle for independence of Croatia and Croatian identity in Australia.

This is a photograph taken in April 1962 of a motor vehicle in a parade taking place in Swanston Street, Melbourne, which is decorated in the Croatian and Australian National Flags.

Handwritten inscription on the back of the photograph "April 1962".

photograph, 1960s, parade, demonstration, activism

Vincent Gercovich married Winifred Rebecca Bennett (English emigrant) on 13 February 1867 in St. Alipius church in Ballarat. They had a total of 12 children. Little is known about his life, but what is known that he was well disposed to several languages and due to his ability to communicate with immigrants worked at the entry gate to the city of Ballarat. He died at the age of 61. Vincent was one of these early Croatian immigrants who came to Victoria around 1850s. His surname Gercovich (probably Gerković or Jerković) came from the island of Hvar on Dalmatian coast. On his Australian citizenship documents, the place of birth was stated as Dalmatia, Austria. From research of collected documents it can be concluded that the first Croats arrived to this country some 150 years ago mainly because of gold discovery. Victoria had a few rich deposits of gold and for obvious reasons many came to join the great ‘Gold Rush’.

A black and white family photograph features Gercovich family with 12 children photographed in a studio around 1889. Children ages on the photograph range from unborn to young adults.

vincent and winifred gercovich, gercovich, early croatian immigrants, immigration, croatia, dalmatia, ballarat, gold rush

Postcard written by Slavica Risek at 11 years of age to her grandmother on arrival to Australia from Croatia. She was travelling on the Angelina Lauro passenger ship with her brother, mother and father c.1969. She describes her cabin is located at the first windows at the bow of the ship. The postcard was never posted. This was during a time that Australia was recruiting labourers from Europe. The family left Croatia along with many other immigrants looking for a better life in Australia.

This item is of historical significance as a representative example of a young girl immigrating to Australia during the time when Australia was recruiting labourers from overseas.

Image of Postcard with photo on front of ship named Angelina Lauro sailing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. On reverse side is a written message and address in Croatian

immigration, sydney harbour bridge, croatia, labourers, angelino lauro ship, postcard