The voyage of MS Nelly, 1952

The migrant ship MS Nelly carried the first German migrants under the bilateral assisted passage scheme signed on 29 August 1952. The ship departed Bremen in early November and arrived in Melbourne on 5 December 1952. Those on board had agreed to work as directed for the Commonwealth of Australia for two years, in exchange for a heavily reduced fare.

These photos follow the voyage and were probably taken by one of the accompanying Australian immigration officers.

A large building with a chimney behind a sign reading 'Bremen Überseeheim'.
A bus with an open door parked next to a train carriage, with a group of people milling between them.
A band playing on a makeshift stage in front of a building.
Boarding the ship bearing an Australian flag and banner from the migration committee.
A crowd of passengers at the bottom of the ship's gangplank.
People examining rugs for sale at a street market.
A woman conducting an English lesson on the ship's deck.
A man and a woman lying in deck chairs.
Children playing ring toss next to a lifeboat.
A crowd of people on the ship's deck.

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