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n 1946 Australia signed an agreement to provide free assisted passages to British ex-servicemen and other selected British Migrants. This was later extended to ex-servicemen from other countries, including Poland. 3,800 Displaced Persons were included in the thousands of migrants who came to Australia. Many came on a two year contract to help labour shortages. Regardless of their professional skills, they were sent to work on various Hydro-electric schemes including the Snowy Mountains Scheme in NSW and the Hydro Electricity Scheme in Tasmania. Source www.ssasturias.net/polishmigration.html

Latvians, together with Estonians and Lithuanians, were the first ethnic groups in the large postwar immigration wave of “displaced persons” from Europe that started in 1947. It has been estimated that some 17,000 persons born in Latvia, and a further 2,500 persons born elsewhere but of Latvian origin, settled in Australia between 1947 and 1952. Including prewar settlers, by 1952 about 20,000 Latvians were living in Australia. Queensland was a less popular destination than the southern states because many feared its hot and humid climate. Probably about 1,500 people of Latvian origin came to Queensland, though a figure of 2,000 has also been mentioned. They started to arrive in 1948 and settled mostly in or near Brisbane, but in smaller numbers also in Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and Mount Isa. The early years were primarily spent in establishing a new life, attaining economic security and buying or building a home. Many had to study, while holding down other jobs, to have their previous qualifications recognised or re-established. Parents had learnt that education was the only thing of value that could be carried by a refugee or migrant. Children were therefore encouraged and assisted to obtain a good education, preferably at the tertiary level and leading to a professional qualification. Despite coming to Australia without capital and belongings, Latvians quickly and successfully adapted to life in Queensland and became reasonably secure economically. Source: latviansonline.com/brisbane-community-grows-smaller-older/

This Russian Orthodox parish, the first in Australia, was established by white Russians fleeing the Russian revolution. For many years they worshipped in St Thomas’s Anglican Church in nearby South Brisbane. In 1925 they purchased a cottage and converted it into a church. It was later moved to the back of the block to make way for the construction of the new church. Since these early days, and indeed since the foundation of the church, services have changed little. Worship is still conducted in the liturgical language, Church Slavonic. There are no pews or chairs and the congregation stands while the smell of incense wafts around singing members. Candles burn before the icons and on the altar. More icons line the walls representing the spiritual beauty of the Kingdom of Heaven. Source www.stnicholascenter.org/gazetteer/81