For more than 40 years the Finsbury Migrant Hostel was the first place thousands of new arrivals to Australia called home. The reality of this ‘home’ was often a shock; the living conditions and Adelaide climate in complete contrast to those expected and those left behind. While this was too much for some to bear, for most the Finsbury Migrant Hostel signalled the start of new beginnings.
As part of History Week 2008 the City of Charles Sturt is planning an activity that recognises and celebrates the different perspectives and experiences of the Finsbury Migrant Hostel.
But we need your help to get started.
Are you, members of your family or friends former Finsbury residents?
Did you live in the Pennington area during the time the hostel operated?
What are your memories and stories?
We encourage you to share these memories with us, either via this blog or by emailing Council's Cultural Heritage Project Officer llacey@charlessturt.sa.gov.au
We are interested in hearing anything and everything about the hostel - the good and the bad!
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7 comments:
My family stayed at the Pennington hostel for a year in 1967. I was a child of around 7 years old and we had emigrated from West Yorkshire in England. I have vivid memories of the dining room, the christmas party, the dreaded toilets, the rows and rows of homes and much more.
I would love to share experiences with other people who stayed here in the 60's.
My family stayed at the Pennington Migrant Hostel in 1967 after comming over on the ship the Castel Felice. I dont remember much about it apart from what my mother has told me as I was only one at the time.
my parents,sister& myself travelled overland to Finsbury Hostel in March 1964 from Graylands Hostel in Perth W.A where we had arrived on 6th Jan 1964 , having sailed from SOUTHAMPTON 12thDec1963 onboard M.V FAIRSKY
Finsbury was different to Graylands,as the 'nissen huts'were in long rows in Finsbury compared to single ones in Perth.I remember my sister & I had bunk beds in our own room whilst my parents slept on a bed settee in the living room,at the top & bottom of the rows of 'huts' were blocks of toilets/showers & laundry rooms, at meal times we would have to take our cutlery&mugs(provided by hostel)to the dining room where for a small fee you had a choice of meals, which on the whole were not too bad,there was a shop&a post office which saw people queing as soon as the mail van arrived to collect letters&parcels from 'home'opposite them there was a park with swings etc..there was also a t.v room a cinema & a youth centre which was run by a lovely man who everyone called 'SKIP'who arranged alsorts of discos games &outings being a young teenager at the time I have a lot of happy memories of my time on FINSBURY even after we moved off the 'camp'I still went back there most nights as I had lots of friends living there. All in all I remember having lots of fun at FINSBURY & if any one remembers me I would love to hear from them I was at the time Linda Huyton now Speers
my family arrived at Pennington hostel in 1969 having sailed from Southampton England on the "Castel Felice" i was 7 at the time and have vague memories of the dining room and generally being happy, i think i attended pennington primary school and my Dad got a job at the ROH wheel factory nearby. if anyone else has memories of this time please email me at davejks21@yahoo.com.au
my family arrived at Pennington hostel in 1969 having sailed from Southampton England on the "Castel Felice" i was 7 at the time and have vague memories of the dining room and generally being happy, i think i attended pennington primary school and my Dad got a job at the ROH wheel factory nearby. if anyone else has memories of this time please email me at davejks21@yahoo.com.au
We were a bit earlier than most referred to here. Came out in late 1957 on HMAS Australia. Spent a year there before the family bought a house in Seacombe Gardens.
As an eleven year old I fell in love with a girl called Jean Forsyth. Love to meet her again.
My family arrived in Australa in Feb 59 on the ship Fair Sea. We disembarked in Victoria and travelled to SA. I think on a bus to Finsburry Park Hostel,m as I remember it being called.We were 5 children + mum and Dad.Mum worked in the Canteen and dad was a way working in Woomerra. I was 9 and went to the Nuns school at Port Adelaid. We were there for approx two years I think.. and then we travelled to Wollongong NSW in an Austin A40,
a tight squeese..our name was KING
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