The workers
Between 1945 and 1965 more than two million migrants came to Australia. The Australian Government started a intensive international promotional campaign to encourage migration to Australia. 'Populate or Perish’ became the catchphrase, encouraging people to come and work in Australia. Most were assisted, meaning the government paid a large part of their fare to get to Australia. Most of the migrants found themselves in a strange and harsh environment within a few days of arriving. Some men suffered post-tramatic stress from the war. The Snowy Mountains Authority didn't have time for people to adjust, so people had to get on with it or leave. Stress on married men with families in Europe had it's toll, with many men buying out their contracts and returning home.
How they arrived
In 1950, 9 out of 10 migrants arrived in Australia by boat. Although, by the end of the decade more migrants would be arriving by plane than by sea.
Travelling by boat was the only option for long distance travel around the start of the Snowy Mountain Scheme, but by the 1960's air travel was a cheaper and faster way of travelling. Coming to Australia by boat took anywhere from 1-2 months, a long time for the passengers with not much to do on board. When air travel became more common, ships started upgrading their on-board experiences, offering luxury restaurants, cinemas, lounges and a over-all smoother journey to try to entice people to travel by sea.
Travelling by boat was the only option for long distance travel around the start of the Snowy Mountain Scheme, but by the 1960's air travel was a cheaper and faster way of travelling. Coming to Australia by boat took anywhere from 1-2 months, a long time for the passengers with not much to do on board. When air travel became more common, ships started upgrading their on-board experiences, offering luxury restaurants, cinemas, lounges and a over-all smoother journey to try to entice people to travel by sea.
An Italian story
'I arrived in Melbourne late on the night of the 26th September 1959. Together with many others, I was put straight onto a train at Station Pier which stopped at Spencer Street Station and then at Benalla where we were given tea and sandwiches and the newspaper La Flamma to read. We arrived at Bonegilla (a migrant camp) in the early hours of the morning and were taken by bus to the camp...
Like Military style, we were given blankets and crockery and were asked to collect breakfast, lunch and dinner at particular times. I remember lunch was usually mutton with vegetables and dinner was some sort of soup. We were also issued with written rules and regulations of the camp… I had made up my mind that i wasn't going to to get paid what I was worth if I stayed at Bonegilla so I decided when the first opportunity to leave came I could take it.'
-Michele Attardi, an Italian worker on the Snowy Mountain Scheme.
Like Military style, we were given blankets and crockery and were asked to collect breakfast, lunch and dinner at particular times. I remember lunch was usually mutton with vegetables and dinner was some sort of soup. We were also issued with written rules and regulations of the camp… I had made up my mind that i wasn't going to to get paid what I was worth if I stayed at Bonegilla so I decided when the first opportunity to leave came I could take it.'
-Michele Attardi, an Italian worker on the Snowy Mountain Scheme.