Immigration Minister Arthur Calwell welcoming DP (Displaced Persons) migrants onboard KANIMBLA

Subject or historical figure Armands Laula (Australian - Latvian, 1926 - 2018)

Date1947

Object number00001520

NamePhotograph

MediumBlack and white photographic print on paper.

DimensionsOverall: 56 × 56 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Amands Laula

Terms

DescriptionAustralian Immigration Minister Arthur Calwell giving a speech welcoming the first migrants from European displaced persons camps to arrive in Australia. Latvian migrant Armands Laula was among them. The media event is taking place in the afternoon of 7 December 1947 on board the KANIMBLA in Port Melbourne. HistoryIn 1947 Arthur Calwell the Minister for Immigration from 1945 to 1949 in the Chifley Labor government visited Europe to arrange shipping for migrants from Britain. He also met with the International Refugee Organization and agreed to consider immigration to Australia of people displaced by the conflict of WWII and currently residing in displaced persons camps in Europe. Calwell favoured the approach of assimilation for and used the term 'New Australian' for immigrants, particularly 'displaced persons' from the Baltic states and Eastern Europe. On 7 December 1947 he boarded the KANIMBLA in Port Melbourne to welcome the first migrants to arrive. Latvian migrant Armands Laula was on board and recorded the event in his diary: Sunday 7 December After breakfast I had a look at the arrangements for our next disembarkation – Australia and then went to lie down a bit because today will be a little different from usual. Getting up I saw that land was visible on both sides of the ship which was heading into Port Phillip Bay. We did not cross the bay but sailed along one side so that we reached Melbourne at one o’clock as scheduled. There were many people waiting to greet us. I had to go and help unload the luggage. That happened very quickly and for some wooden suitcases it was their last journey. We hadn’t finished unloading everything when all work was suspended and we had to go to meet the Minister for Immigration [Arthur Calwell]. That happened in the sun on the top deck. Prior to his arrival a whole lot of press photographers and cinematographers appeared. His arrival and also the beginning of his talk were accompanied by the sound of cameras because it wasn’t sufficient for the photographers to take one shot, it had to be done several times. The Minister welcomed us as the first DP’s [Displaced Persons] to come to Australia. After his talk a Lithuanian lady gave an address. She was dressed in national costume which caused much amazement. Again there was much photographing. SignificancePrior to the war's end, a Committee on Migration had been established by the Australian Government to investigate non-British migration and enabled Australia’s acceptance of large numbers of refugees and displaced persons from a diverse number of European countries. On 13 July 1945, the Department of Immigration was formally established,
with Arthur Calwell as its first minister.