Summary

Booklet 'Manual of Instructions and Procedures', issued by Commonwealth Hostels Limited, for use by hostel managers in 1974. It provides a summary of the responsibilities of hostel managers, instructions on public relations, procedures relating to the arrivals and departures of migrants, accounting, catering, equipment, plant and buildings, house-keeping, boarders and 'boarder relations', migrant services, staff and other office administrative procedures.

This copy (number 90) was used by Victor Sikich. Victor began working with Commonwealth Hostels Limited in 1959, (renamed Commonwealth Accommodation and Catering Services in 1978). He was a long-serving staff member of the company and worked at various hostels, including Enterprise and Broadmeadows. Victor himself had migrated from the former Yugoslavia in 1958 and was one of many migrants employed by the company over the decades.

Physical Description

Bound book with red leather front and back cover, metal tacks bind together the covers and typed pages. Title is embossed on front cover in gold.

Significance

Statement of Significance/ Technical significance:
The stories of migrants and the organizations that assisted them comprise a significant part of Australian post-war history. Since World War II, thousands of government-assisted migrants and refugees have experienced arrival and accommodation at the migrant hostels. Yet migrant hostels are an under-documented area of Australia's immigration history - with the exception of Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre, which was managed by the Department of Immigration. This collection is significant as it contributes to filling the gap in knowledge about the Commonwealth migrant hostels, which were a function of the Department of Labour and National Service. This collection and the accompanying archival documents are a rare find. Items from the migrant hostels were often sold or disposed of by the government soon after they were closed-down. Many migrants have kept photos taken during their stay at the hostels but day-to-day items belonged to the Company and were returned to the hostel upon departure. This collection has the potential enhance collections in cultural institutions such the NSW Powerhouse Museum and Migration Heritage Centre (Villawood [Westbridge] and Cabramatta hostels).

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