Title: Unravelling the travelling: far-flung forebears Synopsis: Many migrants to the antipodean colonies had already changed their place of residence within their own or neighbouring countries or arrived in Australia on their way somewhere else. This presentation, engaging familiar nursery rhymes to investigate concepts raised by ‘double migration’ – embraces those peripatetic people who continued wandering, steering and scattering family groupings in exotic destinations for descendant historians to disentangle. What components contributed to their roving, how did they achieve it and where do we find clues about, or solutions to, their fascination for a nomadic lifestyle?

Title: ‘All they wanted was good treatment’: understanding the Irish Workhouse orphan girls Synopsis: In just three years, 1848-1850, 4114 young women aged between 13 and 19 were given free passages from the workhouse in every county in Ireland to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Who were they and what was the personal outcome for these brave adolescents to agreed to cross the world in the middle of the Irish Famine? This paper will provide a glimpse of their circumstances in Ireland and their eventual lives and the families they formed in Australia. What can you find and what remains forever hidden in time and the trauma of emigration?

National Archives of Australia Topic: Uncovering family history through the national archival collection National Archives of Australia preserves and provides access to key Australian Government records. A rich resource for family historians, the collection contains more than 45 million items and includes defence service records, immigration records, ASIO dossiers, and much more.

Title: The New Settlers League: helping immigrants “live happily ever after”. Synopsis: After the turmoil of the First World War, the Australian government sought to protect its sparsely populated shores from future invasion by focusing on a vast and rapid increase of settlement through immigration. To help accomplish this objective the Commonwealth government funded the establishment of a volunteer organisation, the New Settlers League of Australia (NSLA). The league’s role was to promote immigration and to welcome and provide a broad range of assistance to immigrants. The NSLA’s first branch was established in Victoria in March 1921, with Queensland following in July. Among the state NSLA divisions, Queensland was remarkable for its longevity and success. This was due to the commitment of dedicated members who worked tirelessly (almost all without remuneration) to help accomplish the Commonwealth and Queensland governments’ objective to populate Queensland, largely along the coast. In this presentation, as we delve into the League’s records held at Queensland State Archives, I will acquaint you with some of the dedicated people who supported the governments’ immigration drive. Also, through a few selected case studies the voices of some of the many immigrants that received assistance from the NSLA will also emerge. Their stories illustrate the NSLA’s records as a little-known but rich source of information for family historians to explore.

Title: Revealing the Huguenots: Their Diaspora, Their Descendants, and My Own Personal Discoveries Synopsis: The presentation should appeal broadly to those interested in European history and genealogy, and more specifically to those with, or potentially with, Huguenot ancestry, who may wish to know how to research this. It is intended to produce a handout/research guide to accompany this presentation. The presentation will cover five main topics: 1. The historical background to the people known to history as Huguenots – where were they from, what did they believe, why did they become involved in conflict, and why did so many leave their homeland? 2. Where did those who left go? – why did they go to certain countries, how did they get there, what did they do when they got there? 3. Researching Huguenot ancestry – how to discover if you have (or might have) Huguenot ancestors. The various research tools available (physical and online) and how to use them. Live online demonstrations will be incorporated into the presentation (assuming Internet access). 4. Some Australians with known Huguenot ancestry, and how they have contributed to Australian society. A brief rundown only. 5. My own research journey to uncover my Huguenot ancestors – a story totally unknown to my family till research uncovered it. The steps I followed, and the sources I used. Questions and answers will of course be welcome.

Title: Leaving home, Finding home: Bavaria to New South Wales and Queensland. Synopsis: This presentation will explore what happens when a large cluster of families and individuals (66 adults and children) leave a small Bavarian village for the distant eastern shores of New South Wales. What were their experiences en route and, more importantly, how did their lives change in their new country? How did these immigrants adapt to Australia’s colonial life in the mid-19th century? In the presentation we will look at language, longevity, land, naturalisation, linkages with family and friends, and religious affiliations. Their challenges, triumphs, and tragedies present a type of reverse one place study and reflect on the diaspora from Bavaria to Australia.