An exhibition paying homage to Greek migrants who were housed in Block 19 at Bonegilla has been given $13,000 by the Victorian Government.

The Bonegilla Migrant Experience exhibition will pay tribute to the 300,000 plus displaced people and migrants from the end of World War II to it’s closure in 1971. Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras said that this exhibition “is important to preserve the memory of post-war Greek immigrants whose first experience of Australia was the Bonegilla migrant settlement centre”.

The heritage listed attraction was Australia’s biggest and longest running migrant reception centre, this camp was built “originally to promote assimilation was really the birth place of multiculturalism,” Kotsiras said. “Bonegilla is part of all our heritage and can be a great learning and tourism centre for all Australians to enjoy.”

“It was through Bonegilla that many Greeks, other immigrants and displaced persons, went off to work on great engineering projects like the Snowy River hydro-electric project as well as other sectors of the economy.”

The Bonegilla Migrant Experience celebrates the tremendous contribution our migrant communities have made to Australia.