Summary

Black and white digital photograph of Hajrija and Vahid Goga, on their first visit to Melbourne Zoo, 1973.

Albanian couple Ismet and Hajrija Goga and their almost one year old son Vahid, migrated to Australia in 1970 from Montenegro. After residing in Latina, a small Italian town near Rome, they travelled from Italy to Australia aboard the Italian ship Galileo. After travelling along the western coast of Africa with a stop in South Africa, they headed to Fremantle Port then docked at Port Melbourne in 1970.

Ismet Goga soon met Albanian friends from Montenegro who were already settled in Melbourne. They helped Ismet and his family to find accommodation as well as employment. They lived near Port Melbourne from 1970 to 1973. Ismet worked for 20 years for a paper mill producing and recycling papers owned by the Smorgan family. Hajrija worked for the Kraft cheese production company. Their second son, Mirsad, was born in Melbourne.

Description of Content

Woman in outdoor setting with child seated on her knee

Physical Description

Black and white digital photograph.

Significance

Statement of Historical Significance:
Muslims in Australia are an under represented cohort in both the museum's collections and Australian history more broadly. As an-ever growing faith in Australia, it is important to trace the migration and settlement of Muslim Australians across time in order to help provide a historical, social and cultural context for Muslim Australians today. This collection is the key outcome for the collaboration between the Museum and Dr Dzavid Haveric, MV research associate, who has published a seminal history of Muslims in Australia. This collection is the result of his research and community interviews.

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