From across the sea - the museum's migration program explores our cultural heritage.

The arrival of waves of more than ten million migrants by boat and plane is one of the major themes in Australia’s history, and a foundation narrative of modern Australia, infusing our country with more than 200 different cultural and linguistic traditions. Was your family among them? 

Nearly half of all Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas. Migrants have contributed enormously to the making of modern Australia - we believe museums sharing their stories can increase our understanding of the unique challenges many migrants face.

Image: Group of migrants on the deck of MV Castel Verde, Italy, 1950–1957. ANMM Collection Gift from Barbara Alysen. Reproduced courtesy International Organisation for Migration. ANMM Collection ANMS02014[024]

Explore their stories:

Migration Blogs

Discover our shared histories through these compelling migration stories.

Pearling lugger at work in Broome, Western Australia, c 1926. Photographer R A Bourne. Reproduced courtesy National Library of Australia

28 Jun 2021

A pearling pioneer: Remembering the Manilamen

29 Mar 2021

A Greek odyssey: Hellenism and repatriation

16 Dec 2020

A leap of faith

15 Dec 2020

A Mile in my Shoes

10 Dec 2020

Family and a fresh start
Gina Sinozich, We are sailing the Suez Canal on our way to Australia, 2003. ANMM Collection Gift from Gina Sinozich 00037916

17 Nov 2020

Sail, steam and Suez views
Coming and Going, the Sydney memorial to British child migrants by Sasha Reid, located outside the museum in Darling Harbour

16 Nov 2020

Reflecting on the child migrant apology
Left to right: Monga Khan AUSSIE and Gladys Sym Choon AUSSIE posters by Peter Drew, 2020. National Maritime Collection, reproduced courtesy the artist

12 Oct 2020

The art of making: New immigration acquisitions
Henry Lippmann (centre, with hand on chin) during a lesson at the Jewish ORT school in Berlin, Germany, c 1939. ANMM Collection ANMS0219[007], gift from Henry Lippmann

07 Sep 2020

Behind barbed wire: Remembering the Dunera boys
The Wilson family outside their home in Concord, New South Wales, 1948. Reproduced courtesy Victor Wilson Jnr

28 Aug 2020

Fruits of faith: Finding a place to call home
One of the Las Balsas rafts at sea, with the other two rafts in the background, 1973. Photograph by John Carnemolla. Image reproduced courtesy Ballina Naval & Maritime Museum

16 Jul 2020

Las Balsas: The world's longest raft journey
Fern New Zealand

16 Mar 2020

Recognising the first anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks