The Migration Museum works towards the preservation, understanding and enjoyment of South Australia’s diverse cultures. It is a place to discover the many identities of the people of South Australia through the stories of individuals and communities.

In 1992 the Migration Museum published From Many Places. It has since undergone revision. The listings here have been compiled from ABS statistics, local community organisations and relevant historical sources. It is an evolving and ongoing project. 

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    Algerians in South Australia

    African and Asian Algerians have immigrated to Australia since 1973.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1970s, late twentieth century

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    Americans in South Australia

    The first Americans who arrived in South Australia were whalers and seal hunters. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1880s, late twentieth century, Second World War

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    Argentinians in South Australia

    Argentinian immigration to South Australia began in the 1970s, and may be attributed to the decline of Argentina’s economy and standard of living. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1970s, late twentieth century

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    Armenians in South Australia

    The Armenian Cultural Association of South Australia was founded in 1960.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1960s, mid twentieth century

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    Austrians in South Australia

    The first Austrians to arrive in South Australia were two Jesuit priests, Fathers Aloysius Kranewitter and Maximilian Klinkowstroem on December 8, 1848. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

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    Bangladeshis in South Australia

    The first Bengali immigrants came to South Australia to escape the 1971 civil war between West and East Pakistan.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1970s, late twentieth century

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    Belarusians in South Australia

    The first significant wave of Belarusians arrived in South Australia as Displaced Persons (DPs) when Belarus anti-communist fighters, members of Belarusian Youth Union, military Belarusian (anti-Russian) units, pro-German Belarusian government organizations and others were in conflict with the Soviet Red Army.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1940s, mid twentieth century

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    Belgians in South Australia

    The first known Belgians arrived in South Australia after the Second World War as Displaced Persons (DPs) from refugee camps in Europe. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1960s, late twentieth century

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    Brazilians in South Australia

    Brazilians began arriving in Australia in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Bulgarians in South Australia

    The first organised group of Bulgarian immigrants arrived in South Australia in November 1907. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Cambodians in South Australia

    Between 1975 and 1979 thousands of Cambodians fled to neighbouring Thailand to seek refuge from Pol Pot’s regime. These numbers increased in 1979 following invasion by Vietnamese forces.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Canadians in South Australia

    The first significant group of Canadians arrived in Australia after the 1837 rebellions in Canada and approximately 150 Canadians were transported to Australia as convicts, however, almost all of these men returned to Canada after serving their sentences.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Chileans in South Australia

    From 1853 until 1857 Chilean muleteers were employed by the English and Australian Copper Company to transport copper ore and coal between Burra and Port Wakefield.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Chinese in South Australia

    The first Chinese settler to arrive in South Australia is believed to be Tim Sang. Mr Sang arrived sometime between 1836 and 1840.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Cornish in South Australian

    Cornish immigration to South Australia has long been associated with mining, but early Cornish settlers arrived before the first discovery of mineral deposits at Glen Osmond in 1841. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Croatians in South Australia

    A group of Croatians came to South Australia as a result of economic depression in the Medjumurje and Dalmacija regions between 1910 and 1913, and following political unrest in Croatia during 1922, however the most significant wave of Croatian immigrants arrived in South Australia after the Second World War.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Cypriots in South Australia

    In the period between 1916 and 1929 a significant group of Cypriots arrived in South Australia

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Czechs in South Australia

    The first known Czechs to come to South Australia were Roman Catholic missionaries from both Bohemia and Moravia. The first significant wave of Czech migrants came to Australia in the aftermath of the Second World War. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Danish in South Australia

    It is thought that Danes were among the Scandinavians working in South Australian ports in the 1840s.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Dutch in South Australia

    Dutch migration to South Australia was limited before the Second World War. Approximately 120,000 Dutch nationals immigrated to Australia between 1947 and 1961. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    English in South Australia

    Since 1836 the majority of immigrants to South Australia have come from England.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Fijians in South Australia

    A Fijian presence in Australia has been evident since the late nineteenth century.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Filipinos in South Australia

    Small numbers of Filipinos began arriving in South Australia after the Second World War but during the 1970s the number of Filipino arrivals increased substantially.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    French in South Australia

    The first French people came to Australia as convicts or as free settlers who had fled France in the wake of the 1789 Revolution.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Germans in South Australia

    Germans have been arriving in South Australia since the beginnings of the new colony in 1836

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1860s, late nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

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    Ghanaian in South Australia

    African and Asian Ghanaians have immigrated to Australia since 1973, when the White Australia policy was abolished.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | late twentieth century

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    Greeks in South Australia

    Greek arrivals in South Australia increased in the years after the First World War

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

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    Hungarians in South Australia

    The first Hungarians arrived in South Australia after the failed 1848 revolution against the Hapsburg rulers of Austria

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

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    Indians in South Australia

    The first known Indian immigrants arrived in South Australia in the late 1830s

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 2000-2010, late twentieth century

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    Indonesians in South Australia

    Indonesians had contact with Australia before white settlement

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

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