Summary

Black and white photograph of Zoltan and Margit Schmideg with their children Stephen and Peter, standing of the front steps of their first home in Smith Street, Thornbury. The family had just migrated to Australia from Hungary in January 1957.

They first lived in this house in Smith Street, Thornbury for six months (it was rented for them by Zoltan's nieces), before saving enough for the deposit on their timber house in Mansfield Street, Thornbury, which required much work.

Stephen and Peter Schmideg fled Budapest with their parents Zoltan and Margit after the Soviet repression of the Hungarian revolution in 1956. Zoltan and Margit had already survived appalling experiences and loss of family as Jews during World War II. They managed to escape to Austria, before being processed and joining their ship the Aurelia in Genoa, before finally arriving in Melbourne on 28 January 1957.

Description of Content

Two adults and two young boys standing on steps at front of a brick house.

Physical Description

Black and white photograph

Significance

Statement of Historical Significance:
This collection of objects and photographs provides a rare opportunity to document the experiences of migrant children, both at point of arrival in Australia and subsequent settlement. The toys represent the interweaving of both Australian and American popular culture in the 1950s, on the cusp of the launch of television in Australia, as well as the increasing popularity of Australian native symbols to represent an Australian identity. The photos of the children at play with the items is a rare opportunity to document the objects in use at the time. They also demonstrate the role of some community groups (in this case Jewish) in greeting newly arrived migrants and the recognition of the special attention children might require, particularly after traumatic experiences in countries of origin.

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