Summary

Black and white digital photograph of the front of a car James Forbes purchased in Australia parked outside the corrugated tin houses at Broadmeadows Migrant Hostel, Melbourne,1962 where he, his wife Sylvia and daughter Shirley lived after arriving from Scotland. A caravan, borrowed from a friend, is attached to the rear of the car.

James and Sylvia Forbes migrated from Aberdeen in Scotland with their two year old daughter Shirley and James' younger brother Harry. The family were sent to Broadmeadows Hostel and more family followed who settled in Adelaide. Sylvia was employed at the Ford Factory while James worked for Stewarts & Lloyds Stanton Pipes Division. Tragically James was killed in an industrial accident on 20 June 1963 and after subsequently also losing her unborn baby, Sylvia and Shirley returned to Scotland on 18 September 1963. Shirley visited Australia for the first time since departing in 2014.

Description of Content

Three-quarter view of a car parked in front of corrugated iron clad buildings with a caravan visible at the rear.

Physical Description

digital photograph

Significance

This collection provides a valuable and poignant insight into a young family's post-war British migration experience and their return home. It offers a perspective on the return migrant experience which is more difficult to obtain, as opposed to the more commonly told permanent settlement narratives; and it also reveals the diverse (and at time tragic) reasons why migration can be a transient experience for some.

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