Migrantweb.com Hostels Forum

[Fergie]

There were over 2000 immigrants staying at the Berkeley Migrant Hostel during the early 1950's, most of the men went to work at Pt Kembla, and many moved in Housing Commission cottages nearby. By 1969 the Dept of Housing {DOH] owned 1798 properties in Berkeley. Now it is 800. Berkeley demographics show that there are 7511 people living here, of whom 73% are Australian born, 8% came from the UK, 3% from Macedonia, and 1% came each from Viet Nam, Germany and Italy. 55% own or are buying their own homes and 40% rent [but it doesn't say whether DOH or private rentals] or how the other 5% live!

What happened to all those people who chose to come to Berkeley? and what about their children who were born here?

A reunion might be an idea.

There must be some movers and shakers amongst those original immigrants and their children who did well and moved on.

[Len]

Hi Fergie
Welcome to the forums.

Thanks for the info about the Berkeley Hostel site back in the 1950's.
I should imagine that most of the people who had once stayed at Berkeley Hostel would now be spread all over the country/ world.
Would be good thou, if we got a few of them on here and was able to chat about old times, good or bad.

[Fergie]

I bought my house in Berkeley late in 2003 from a Mr. Long who told me he and his wife moved here to a DOH fibro cottage in 1953 [50 years ago]. He worked at Pt Kembla, and she was a dressmaker working from home. They had 3 daughters.
They bought the house from the DOH, extended and brick veneered it. When the family grew up and moved out it was too big,Mrs. Long got sick and the garden [and house] became neglected.
After Mrs. Long died early in 2003, he went travelling, found an ideal situation, and decided to sell the Berkeley house and move there.
This story must have been repeated thousands of times at Berkeley.

[Felvo]

I think a reunion would be a marvellous idea
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Lived at Berkeley Hostel from June 1961 to 63