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John William Gordon-Kirkby, English Migrant, 1961
Image: Passport - John William Gordon-Kirkby, Post-war
Source: Museum Victoria
John William Gordon-Kirkby was born in Gibraltar on 26 August 1936. His parents lived in La Linea, Spain, though they went across to the Colonial Hospital in Gibraltar so that John could be born on British soil.
Due to the political situation in Spain at that time, the family moved to Tangier in Morocco in 1939 where they farmed dairy goats. The Second World War broke out soon after John's sister was born in Tangier, and the family decided to remain there. Following Moroccan independence in 1956 and his father's death in 1959 John began to think about migrating to Australia. The idea of immigrating to Australia had first been planted by John's father who had fought alongside Australians in World War One and liked them and their egalitarian approach to the military organisation.
In order to qualify for assisted passage John had to live in the UK for six months, however his application was rushed through due to being sponsored by an Australian couple from Moorabbin, Les and Lita Shanley. John's sister had met the Shanley's in London and introduced them to John as they were taking an extended holiday to Morocco. Les had been a public servant and worked with the Customs Department in what is now the Immigration Museum. John is forever indebted to their memory.
John came to Australia on an assisted passage scheme as a 'Ten Pound Pom' arriving in Melbourne on 26 November 1961 on the P&O Liner Orsova. His mother and sister followed soon after. As was standard practice his passport was taken in exchange for an identity document in order to assure he remained in Australia for the minimum two years, after which his passport was returned.
John joined the public service and worked in Papua and New Guinea as a patrol officer from 1964-1978. He then worked in remote central Australia for many years.
John speaks of his embarrassment at not becoming an Australian citizen earlier. He finally did so in 1987.
(showing 1 - 10) 10 items
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Counterfoil - Postal Order, pay Australia House £5, 17 Jun 1961
Counterfoil for a £5 pound postal order payable to Australia House in London, receipt number 594758, issued 17 June 1961. It was used by John Gordon-Kirkby as part of his preparations t ...
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Counterfoil - Postal Order, pay Australia £5, 17 Jun 1961
Counterfoil for a £5 pound postal order payable to Australia House in London, receipt number 594757, issued 17 June 1961. It was used by John Gordon-Kirkby as part of his preparations t ...
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Identity Document - Issued to John Gordon-Kirkby, by Commonwealth of Australia, 19 Oct 196 ...
Identity document issued to John William Gordon-Kirkby by the Commonwealth of Australia at Australia House, London on 19 October 1962. John was born in Gibraltar on 26 August 1936. His ...
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Photograph - Casita Verde, La Linea, Spain, circa 1936
Photograph of a house in La Linea Spain overlooking the Rock of Gibraltar, circa 1936. The image is a picture of John Gordon-Kirkby's first home. John was born in Gibraltar on 26 August ...
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Birth Certificate - John William Gordon-Kirkby, Gibraltar, 26 Aug 1936
Birth certificate for John William Gordon-Kirkby. It states that he was born in Gibraltar on 26 August 1936. John William Gordon-Kirkby's parents lived in La Linea but due to the politi ...
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Cut Throat Razor - Crossing the Equator Souvenir, 1921
Cut Throat Razor which belonged to Jack Rasmussen who immigrated with his wife to Victoria from Scandinavia in 1921. Jack is listed on the razor as having played Mrs. Neptune in a mock ...
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Passport - Issued to John William Gordon-Kirkby, by Consul General of Tangier, 4 Jul 1959
British Passport issued to John William Gordon-Kirkby by the Consul General of Tangier for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 4 July 1959. John was born in Gibraltar on ...
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Photograph - Gibraltar, circa 1935
Photograph of the Rock of Gibraltar circa 1935. John William Gordon-Kirkby was born in Gibraltar on 26 August 1936. His parents lived in La Linea but due to the political instability in ...
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Receipt - Payment for Passage, Issued to John William Gordon-Kirkby, 20 Jun 1961
Receipt for £10 issued to John William Gordon-Kirkby for the payment of his passage to Australia from England. Born in Gibraltar in 1939 John grew up in Morocco. Following his father's ...
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Postcard - Gibraltar, The Rock Photographic Service, circa 1950s
Postcard featuring an image of the Rock of Gibraltar as viewed from Spain, published by the Rock Photographic Service, circa 1950s. John William Gordon-Kirkby was born in Gibraltar on 2 ...
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