Who Are They?
These photographs were taken on board the Asturias in November 1948, by Pat Piggott. His wife Irene (Rene) and son Michael are pictured with other passengers. If you can identify them, please let us know.
In 1948 Australia signed an assisted passage agreement with Malta, the first that Australia had made with any country other than Britain.
This resulted in large numbers of arrivals, peaking in the 1950s, with many hundreds travelling on the SS Asturias.
The passenger lists indicate that most were young tradesmen, many travelling with brothers but without their parents. Maltese passengers
who arrived on the Asturias are invited to submit their stories for publication.
More photos are available in the Gallery section.
On Sunday 31st of May 1998 at the Maltese Cultural Centre in Albion, Australia, a new audio-CD, "Maltese Voices Down Under" and a
book "Maltese in Australia", both by Dr. Barry York, were launched.
Despite the surname - York - Dr. Barry York's dad is Maltese. He was born Loretu Meilak but he changed his name after the Second World War when the Air Force (which he joined in Malta) stationed him in London.
Dr. Barry York's dad brothers and sisters, parents, etc., were all from Ghajnsielem, Gozo. The nickname was "tan-Nassi". His dad, however, being the eleventh child, happened to be born in Sliema, Malta, as the family moved there from Gozo around 1916. His dad was born in 1918.
On this CD set, you will hear voices of Maltese men and women who migrated to Australia in eras as different to each other as the First World War and the 1940s. In their own words, they recall aspects of life in Malta and Gozo in the years before they migrated to Australia and they reminisce about the voyage to Australia.
Despite the surname - York - Dr. Barry York's dad is Maltese. He was born Loretu Meilak but he changed his name after the Second World War when the Air Force (which he joined in Malta) stationed him in London.
Dr. Barry York's dad brothers and sisters, parents, etc., were all from Ghajnsielem, Gozo. The nickname was "tan-Nassi". His dad, however, being the eleventh child, happened to be born in Sliema, Malta, as the family moved there from Gozo around 1916. His dad was born in 1918.
On this CD set, you will hear voices of Maltese men and women who migrated to Australia in eras as different to each other as the First World War and the 1940s. In their own words, they recall aspects of life in Malta and Gozo in the years before they migrated to Australia and they reminisce about the voyage to Australia.
Find out more here.
1949 Paul Carbone and friends, before leaving Malta
Photo supplied courtesy of Dr Barry York PhD OAM, Historian
Photo supplied courtesy of Dr Barry York PhD OAM, Historian
Right : Maltese migrants on the deck
of the Asturias
of the Asturias
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Army Chaplain's Poems
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Ship's Voyage Logs
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Statistics about the Ship
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