The Immigration Photographic Archive – Fact sheet 254

After World War II, the Australian Government began an immigration program designed to provide the population and labour force needed to equip the country for postwar development. Migrants came to Australia from the United Kingdom and southern and western Europe, including from refugee camps. Most immigrants arrived on assisted passages or resettlement programs, as child and youth migrants and through employment and family reunion programs. From the 1960s immigration schemes saw migrants from Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and Africa settle in Australia.

The Commonwealth Department of Immigration was responsible for implementing Australia's postwar immigration programs. From its creation in 1945, the department employed photographers to record the arrival and resettlement of migrants and their integration into the Australian community. Their photographs were used to advertise and promote Australia to potential migrants, to illustrate reports and other publications, and as a resource for research into immigration.

The National Archives of Australia holds this collection of images as the Immigration Photographic Archive, series A12111. The collection consists of 36 000 black-and-white and colour images catalogued with the subject and a consecutive number with a year prefix. For example, a photograph relating to 'Apex Sponsorship Scheme for British' migrants taken in 1946 would be identified as '46/1/1'. Colour photographs have an additional 'C' prefix.

Access to the Immigration Photographic Archive

More than 10 000 images from the Immigration Photographic Archive have been digitised and can be accessed through the National Archives image bank, PhotoSearch. Search for 'A12111' as series number, then refine the search using keywords.

Captions for all photographs in the Immigration Photographic Archive are listed in the RecordSearch database. Search RecordSearch with keywords and 'A12111' in the reference number field. PhotoSearch and RecordSearch are available in all National Archives reading rooms and on our website.

Copies of images that have not been digitised may be requested through the National Reference Service.

Examples from A12111, Immigration Photographic Archive

Arrivals

	Series title	Date range	Series number
	MacKeon family of 13 arrives from Ireland	1957	A12111, 57/4/6
	The Aurelia brings Hungarian refugees	1957	A12111, 57/5/32
	Thirty Danish migrants aboard the Castel Felice	1958	A12111, 58/4/8
	The Orsova – Rotary ship of ‘Bring Out a Briton’ arrivals	1958	A12111, 58/7/3

Hostels and reception centres

	Series title	Date range	Series number
	Meal time for families at Bonegilla	1949	A12111, 49/22/9
	Bathurst reception centre	1951	A12111, 51/22/31
	Greta migrant centre – children’s story group	1955	A12111, C55/22A/1

Citizenship

	Series title	Date range	Series number
	Arthur Calwell at naturalisation ceremony in the Great Hall, Melbourne University	1949	A12111, 49/12A/2
	Athletes naturalised before going to Rome Olympics	1960	A12111, 60/12/10

Settling in

	Series title	Date range	Series number
	New Settlers League – New South Wales meeting – Sydney	1953	A12111, 53/19/3
	Good Neighbour Council of Victoria – International cookery contest	1954	A12111, 54/19/25
	‘Tea and sugar’ train carries Good Neighbour to the outback	1969	A12111, 69/19/24

Employment

	Series title	Date range	Series number
	Civil engineering – Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme	1960	A12111, 60/16/62
	Building contractor – Steven Bolding from Winterswyk, Holland	1961	A12111, 61/16/19
	Migrants in employment – self-employed – fruit and vegetable shop in Adelaide	1965	A12111, 65/16/253
	Migrants in employment – steel industry – Spaniards at Port Kembla	1965	A12111, 65/16/255

At home

	Series title	Date range	Series number
	Dutch family at home near Sydney	1960	A12111, 60/21/2
	Estonian Senior Citizens Home – Thirlmere, NSW	1961	A12111, 61/13/22
	Suburban homes for British migrants in Frankston, Victoria	1972	A12111, 72/21/10

Child and youth migrants

	Series title	Date range	Series number
	St Vincent’s Foundling Home – Leederville, WA	1948	A12111, 48/8A/12
	Children have a lesson in the Bonegilla school	1955	A12111, 55/22/82
	Fairbridge Society home in Tasmania	1958	A12111, 58/8/3
	Promotion for youth – Dutch farm boys’ visit	1960	A12111, 60/34/1

Events and festivals

	Series title	Date range	Series number
	Coronation celebrations – Enoggera Centre, Brisbane	1953	A12111, 53/17/22
	Tenth festival of Latvian music and arts	1960	A12111, 60/17/51
	Ukrainians celebrate Christmas – Canberra	1962	A12111, 62/17/6
	Greek National Day in Adelaide	1963	A12111, 63/17/1
	Finnish National Festival – Melbourne	1963	A12111, 63/17/11

Ministers for Immigration

	Series title	Date range	Series number
	Minister for Immigration, Alexander Downer and Arthur Calwell at farewell for T H E Heyes	1961	A12111, 61/28/2A
	Minister for Immigration, Hubert Opperman in Malta	1965	A12111, 65/25/126
	Minister for Immigration, Al Grassby announces new selection procedure	1973	A12111, 73/25/71

Further information about immigration to Australia

The National Archives has prepared a number of fact sheets about immigration to Australia.

Further information and resources about records of migration, citizenship and travel can be found on the National Archives website under Collection. You can also use our database NameSearch to find records about individuals. NameSearch is available on our website and in all reading rooms.