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.

23 Oct 2018

Searching for junks and sampans

08 Oct 2018

60 years since the end of the dictation test
Welcome Wall Unveiling

25 Sep 2018

Welcome Wall
Cane farmers

06 Aug 2018

Operation Kangaroo

26 Jun 2018

The Staging Post

18 May 2018

The saga of Skaubryn

09 May 2018

Welcome Wall May 2018

28 Mar 2018

Migration and photography: The Skaubryn archive

14 Feb 2018

Two centuries of Chinese migration

29 Nov 2017

Two invasions, two nations and a solitary carving

28 Nov 2017

The beautiful Balts – 70 years on

07 Nov 2017

Remembering the White Russians