READ ALL STORIES

The following is a collection of the stories of migration submitted to the site. We invite you to read and gain some idea of the variation of experiences, taking into account the reasons for migration, the hardships and joys of the journey and the adapting to a climate and countryside that was often extremely foreign.

Read them and consider recording your own family's story.

Town/City Torrensville, Adelaide SA 5031 First name Francesco Surname Violi Country of Origin Italy Date of Birth 04.02.1937 Year of Arrival in Australia 11.09.1951 Story Reason for leaving homeland - Poor conditions, hunger and opportunities I came to Australia on the Ship "TOSCANA". It took 37 days from Messina to Melbourne. We stopped at the Port of Aden then we came through the Suez Canal; the next stop was Colombo; from there to Fremantle and on to Melbourne. I was amazed when I disembarked in Melbourne. There were so many people on the wharf waiting for their relations to disembark. Port Melbourne was very busy with cargo ships and the City of Melbourne looked so good to me. It was huge compared to the little town that I came from which had some tall buildings then, but no skyscrapers. I've been here ever since; my Mother & Father passed away in this Country at Croydon in Victoria, and they were interred a Lilydale General Cemetery. Is there a registrar of Immigrants that came to this country before and after the war? If so, where should I Search for it, can you help? Thanks.