Summary

Large poster with gloss finish, featuring jar of Vegemite, with the text 'Multiculturalism / Our Nation Was Built On It / Spread it Around!' circa 1989.

It was probably made for the Federal Government's Office of Multicultural Affairs, which operated 1987-1995 as part of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (it then transferred to the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs). Designed by Micheal Sarah, Randwick TAFE College, Sydney. This poster is part of a collection at Museum Victoria which provides an insight into the evolution of immigration and multicultural policy in Australia, including documentation relating to various immigration ministers over time. The collection is valuable both for the information it contains regarding issues relating to immigration and multicultural policy, citizenship, language and national identity, but also for the material expression of this critical and far-reaching shift on Australian cultural policy from White Australia to the Racial Discrimination Act and beyond.

Physical Description

Poster, gloss finish, white background with black text and colour illustration of a Vegemite jar.

Significance

This acquisition is drawn from material selected from the Ecumenical Migration Centre library collection at the Immigration Museum Discovery Centre by Maria Tence and Moya McFadzean. The items selected are considered to be more appropriate as heritage collection than library material.

Community Cultural and Political Awareness Material: This eclectic mix of material provides an insight into the types of activities being undertaken in the 1970s and 1980s in terms of multicultural policy and promotion and immigration settlement management. From multilingual translations on racial discrimination to translating services, immigration and cultural diversity related community resources to refugee support groups, culturally-specific educational curriculum to poster and calendar promoting cultural diversity.

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