Exploring the migrant experience through an examination of letters to The New Australian

Abstract

In January 1949, the Australian Department of Immigration commenced publication of a monthly newspaper The New Australian. This new bulletin, aimed specifically at European migrants, and Displaced Persons (DPs) in particular, was produced in simple English primarily as an aid to assimilation. Regular features included English language lessons, information about the Australian way of life, and the “Write to us” column. For many migrants the opportunity to “write to us” provided a means to garner information and to express, often desperately, their current circumstances. Through an examination of the original migrant letters, and the government responses to them, this chapter will explore these migrant voices and what they contribute to our knowledge of the post-war European migrant experience within the Australian context.