Australian National Maritime Museum to unveil two panels honouring 814 families on the National Monument to Migration
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Published
November 22
11am and 2pm
November 22 sees two ceremonies at the Australian National Maritime Museum where 814 names from 56 different countries will be unveiled on the National Monument to Migration, also known as the Welcome Wall.
Migration and how it has shaped Australia is one of the museum’s core pillars and the National Monument to Migration forms an integral part of the museum’s activity in this space. Families whose names are on the Monument can also contribute a brief story about the person being honoured by the inscription, details of which are published on the museum website.
Honouring those who have migrated from countries around the world to make Australia their new home, the first names were unveiled on the Welcome Wall in January 1999, and the latest additions will join the close to 36,000 names that have been added since.
The two ceremonies will be attended by hundreds of people representing the names of families on the monument.
The 11am ceremony features speakers from Italy, Wallis and Futuna, South Africa and Lithuania.
The 2pm ceremony sees a panel of names focussed on the Vietnamese community to Commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
Ms Daryl Karp AM, Director and CEO of the Museum said, ‘The National Monument to Migration celebrates the long history of migrants who have shaped modern Australia, and we are proud to be recognising the new names being unveiled over the course of the day. With migrant families representing over 117 countries, the Monument is a testament to the role that migration has played in shaping our nation. We are honoured to be celebrating all those who have chosen Australia as their home and further enriched this multicultural nation.’
The museum is now accepting names for the next panel on the Monument, with registrations open until 22 December 2025 for the next unveiling ceremony.
About the National Monument to Migration
The Welcome Wall, Australia’s National Monument to Migration at the Australian National Maritime Museum commemorates those who have migrated from countries around the world to make Australia their new home. The name of any person who was born overseas and settled in Australia may be registered on the Monument. Registration opens for limited periods each year and a donation applies for each inscription. The Monument is situated on the northern promenade of the museum, facing Pyrmont Bay which is historically a place where many migrants first arrived in Sydney.
The first names were unveiled on the Welcome Wall on January 24, 1999, by the Governor General, Sir William Deane AC KBE KStJ KC. On March 21, 2021, Governor General, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC elevated the status of the Welcome Wall to become Australia’s National Monument to Migration.