Wollongong City Libraries have partnered with the Migrant Heritage Project to mount an exhibition of photos for History Week 2024. The exhibition gives snapshots of life for migrants to the Illawarra from the 1940s and reflects how diverse cultural backgrounds have enriched our present society through music, dance, community events, religious festivals and food.
You can see the Migrant Heritage Illawarra exhibition on display
from 9 September until 26 November at Wollongong Library.
To view images and their captions, go to the slideshow below
or click on individual images within the gallery.
To access jigsaw puzzles based on the images go to: Online puzzles
Images labelled MHP belong to Migrant Heritage Project.
To see more of their images and information from the go to:
Images labelled P belong to Wollongong City Libraries’ Illawarra Images collection
To see more P images or to order high resolution copies of P images, go to: Illawarra Images
MHP02150 Italian Centre Stewart Street Wollongong 
MHP02257 Picnic in the Illawarra, ca. 1957-1958 
MHP02307 Entertaining Guests at a BBQ at the Zanni family Farm at Appin ca. 1968 
MHP02317 BBQ using a makeshift spit made from 44 gallon drum, 1963 
MHP02330 BBQ held at Zanni family farm at Appin ca. 1966 
MHP02374 Polish Language School, St Francis Xaviers, Wollongong, ca. 1957 
WCL P06675 Fairy Meadow Hostel 1964 
WCL P06685 Family at Fairy Meadow Hostel 1973 
WCL P06690 Fairy Meadow Hostel dining room 1973 
WCL P06691 Fairy Meadow Hostel 1973 
WCL P19753 Ukrainian Folk Dancers Fest. 1983 
WCL P19825 Macedonian Folk Dancers 2002 
WCL P22958 Greek Orthodox Easter 1986 
WCL P24809 Ethnic Schools Festival 1990 
WCL P24828 Indian Cultural Day 1992 
WCL P28425 Steelhaven hostel Port Kembla 1969 
MHP01711 Enjoying Some Leisure Time at Stanwell Park, 12 October 1954 
MHP01264 Ella Bieniasch with her daughter, Eva at Balgownie Migrant Hostel, 1957 
MHP01267 First Polish School at Warrawong 
MHP01681 Worker operating welding rod at Steelworks, ca. 1950s-1970s 
MHP01695 Hostel, Unanderra Hostel, Hut 37F, 1947 
MHP01703 Ferruccio Martino, Bald Hill, Stanwell Park, 1955 
MHP01597 Vietnamese Celebrations, Ribbonwood Centre Dapto, 2023 
MHP01312 First Holy Communion, Breakfast, St Francis Xavier, Wollongong, ca. 1964 
MHP01290 Taylor Family, Balgownie Migrant Hostel, ca. 1955-56 
MHP01278 Cross-throwing, St Kliment of Ohrid Ceremony, Port Kembla Pool, year unknown 
MHP01118 L.E. Isaacs Staff, 1955 
MHP01116 Group of Young Women Pretending to Play Instruments, ca. 1950s 
MHP00731 Birthday Party at Balgownie Hostel, 1954 
MHP00642 Vietnamese Children, 2003 
MHP00473 Portuguese Folk Dancers and Musicians 
MHP00415 Macedonian Musicians 
MHP00367 Picnic at the Dam, ca. 1980s 
MHP00265 Picnic at North Beach, ca. 1940s/50s 
MHP00171 Italian Pioneer Ladies, 2005 
MHP00154 Maltese Community, ca. 1950s
