Dutch Migration to Australia

An Immigration Discovery Centre Reference Sheet

The Immigration Discovery Centre has a variety of resources relating to Dutch migration to Australia.  On 8 October 2006, the Immigration Museum celebrated Victoria’s Dutch community with ‘Dutch Fest’, a cultural festival attended by over two thousand people. 

A Dutch migrant family

A Dutch migrant family. State Electricity Commission of Victoria collection.
Source: Museum Victoria

To assist people with their research into their family history and Dutch-Australian history and culture, the Immigration Discovery Centre staff prepared the following list of print and electronic resources:

Immigration Discovery Centre reference collections

Resources relating to the Dutch community in Australia can be found in the Immigration Discovery Centre library. The library houses a diverse reference collection with a focus on migration, cultural diversity and Australian ethno-history. 

Dutch Migration to Australia

Dutch Resource Folder (available in the Immigration Discovery Centre)

Bell, James. 1981. The Dutch. Nelson. Catalogue Number: 305.83931

Eysbertse, Marijke and Dirk. 2006. Where Waters Meet: The Dutch Migrant Experience in Australia. Erasmus Foundation. Catalogue Number: 304.89404920922 E97

Jupp, James. 2001. The Australian People. Cambridge University Press, 2001
Catalogue Number: 994 A938PE

Peeters, Nonya. 2006. The Dutch Down Under 1606-2006. University of Western Australia Press. Catalogue Number: 304.8940492 D975P

Zierke, Elly. 1997. Old Ties and New Beginnings - Dutch Women in Australia.
Dutch Care Ltd. Catalogue Number: 994.00043931

Personal stories

Torpy, Dennis. 226 & Counting, The Steenhuis Family Celebrates 50 Years in Australia. Catalogue Number: 305.894 920 094

Wilson, Petronella E. 1996. Always More Potato. T.J and P.E. Wilson.
Catalogue Number: 929.2 W752

Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre

Moss, Merrilee. 1997. Taking a Punt - First Stop Bonegilla.
City of Darebin. Catalogue Number: 304.89404 T136

Nuchtern, Walter A. 2002. Postwar European migration at Bonegilla and Bathurst 1948-51. W.A. Nuchtern. Catalogue Number: 305.8941 N963

Pennay, Bruce. 2001. Albury Wodonga's Bonegilla: a provincial centre's experience of postwar immigration, 1947-1971. Charles Sturt University in Association with the Albury Regional Museum. Catalogue Number: 304.894 P412

Pithie. Helen. 2000. From the steps of Bonegilla: Bonegilla Migrant Reception & Training Centre, 1947-1971. Albury Regional Museum, Catalogue Number: 304.894 F931

Sluga, Glenda. 1988. Bonegilla: a place of no hope. University of Melbourne.
Catalogue Number: 325.94 S634

Contact the Immigration Discovery Centre

If you require further assistance with your research contact the Immigration Discovery Centre.

Phone us:
+ 61 3 9927 2726

Email us:
discoverycentre@museum.vic.gov.au

Write to us:
Immigration Discovery Centre
Immigration Museum
GPO Box 666
Melbourne 3001 Vic
Australia

Your comments

Charles Aslan Looking for information for moses sassoon. dutchman came from indonesia to perth,wa. pass away in 1954. whent to school UWA. want to know if he had any family or properties. lived in northam,wa
25/07/2009 09:32 AM
Discovery Centre

Hello Charles. A great place to look for information about people like Moses is the website of the National Archives of Australia. You may also be interested in the expertise and resources offered by the Western Australian Genealogical Society? It's getting easier and easier to research historical figures via the net.

29/07/2009 10:30 AM
Ineke Hye, i'am looking for my cousin the family lost contact about 50 years ago!His name is Wessel Hendrik Steenbergen born on 19-05-1933 in Groningen-The Netherlands. They call him Also rooie/red Wessel because of the collor of his hair.His father name was Wessl to and his mother Wilhelmina Anna. Thank you so mutch Kindly regards from Holland.
16/08/2009 02:36 AM
Discovery Centre

Hi Ineke and thanks for your question. The National Archives of Australia is the central repository for Australian Commonwealth Government records including the immigration records of people who have migrated to Australia. Tracing people currently living in Australia is a little harder but perhaps the best starting point is the telephone and address listings of the White Pages directory. Good Luck with your search!

18/08/2009 03:30 PM
Alexander Klomp Hello! Doing a student project on my Grandfather, who immigrated here from the Netherlands in the early 1950's. Lived in Perth, any suggestions? Thank you!
18/09/2009 01:02 PM
Discovery Centre

Hello, Alexander. In addition to following up the two suggestions offered above, you may be interested in this info-sheet about researching family members online. Enjoy!

19/09/2009 10:00 AM
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Internet Resources

Vicnet's Dutch Community Directory: Vicnet provides community internet services to Victorian not-for-profit organisations.

The Erasmus Foundation is a Netherlands-Australian cultural society which promotes understanding and friendship between Australia and the Netherlands.

The Dutch Courier is a monthly publication published on behalf of the Associated Netherlands Societies in Victoria.

The Netherland National Archives homepage.

The Netherland National Archives From the Netherlands to Australia: Emigrants 1946–1991.