Over 500 new families to be honoured in National Monument to Migration unveiling ceremonyOver 500 new families to be honoured in National Monument to Migration unveiling ceremony 

This May, the Australian National Maritime Museum will add 690 new names from 61 different countries to the National Monument to Migration, also known as the Welcome Wall, in an unveiling ceremony on May 10.

The Australian National Maritime Museum is home to the National Monument to Migration and its digital hub, Faces of Migration, which shares the migration stories behind some of the people whose names have been inscribed on the Wall

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 34,500 names that have been added since.

The ceremony will be held at the Museum, attended by hundreds of families, friends and community members, and feature notable guest speakers Petra Taok (SBS), Violet Torbey (Lebanon migration story), Dr Mohammed Ohidul Haque (Bangladesh migration story), Steve Bennett (UK Big Brother Movement migration story), and representatives from the National Maritime Museum.

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 690 new names being unveiled in this important ceremony.  Hailing from 61 different countries, we are honoured to be celebrating all those who have chosen Australia as their home and further enriched this multicultural nation

Donors can also contribute a brief story about the person being honoured by the inscription, details of which are published on the museum website.

The museum is now accepting names for the next panel on the Monument, with registrations open until June 30 for the next unveiling ceremony.

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.