Migrantweb.com Hostels Forum

richardhallford · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:43 am Post subject: Brookly Hostel info

For anyone interested, the arrivals and departures book at Brooklyn Hostel is available from the National Archives of Australia, from 1959 to 1970. Good hunting.
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East Hills Hostel Aug 1966 to 1968. Nissen Huts 81 and 83d

stormfour · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:54 am Post subject:

I remember that game,we got our asses kicked,but I always told my Mum we let them win Shocked

.I remember going to Brooklyn hostel to play against them cant remember Maribynong all that well,but I must admit to suffering from C.R.A.F.T. a lot these days.
Sue I posted the words to that song in another post somewhere on this forum,we used to sing it all the time when we went ice skating!!

aussietrekker · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:57 am Post subject:

I had a squizz at the Brooklyn Hostel book at the National Archives last year, recognised many names who ended up at Altona Hostel, also many neighbours in our street later on. it would make a good outing for us, a day at the PRO, except that- almost all reference to Altona Hostel are mysteriously non-existent (hums X-Files music Laughing

) Carol and Linda will know what I mean!

Am just off the phone to our Colette, she went to see Nora McManus in Werribee who is all excited about the reunion, so you can count them in as well.

stormfour · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:32 am Post subject:

mmmmm Have been thinking a lot about that lately I think we should name it " The village of the Dammed"
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Carol Myers Altona Hostel Dec 1962 - June 1964

stormfour · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:53 am Post subject:

How do you access this info at The National Archives,I have been in there and it isn't showing me anything just say no results for whatever I ask for cry

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Carol Myers Altona Hostel Dec 1962 - June 1964

aussietrekker · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:18 am Post subject:

That's what I mean- it's a big fat nothing! Plenty on other hostels, but it's like ours never existed.

richardhallford · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:58 am Post subject: Wiltona

There are 13 entries in the NAA for Wiltona. They include address books from 1970 to 1980. Also arrival and departure books. Simply go to the site, sign on as a guest, then start searching. Some of the search words can be misleading. Wiltona brings up the above. Migrant Hostels bring up hundreds. Also, you dont actually know what is in the records. Its a bit hit an miss. To access the contents, someone has to pay for the first time. Usually $16.50. Then its available for all to see for free. Sucks, but thats the way it is. Ive accesses several files. Some excellent, some so so. Big thrill seeing the emmigrantion papers you filled out 40 years ago. If your folks emmigrated, odds on they are available. They may have had to fill in an employment form from previous too. This can be gold. Shows where your folks were at any one time. Good luck all. Happy to help, but you have to actually do the search yourselves. Eats up my life, hehe.
PS Altona Hostel was also known as Williamstown Hostel before it was renamed to Altona. Good trick if searching.
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East Hills Hostel Aug 1966 to 1968. Nissen Huts 81 and 83d

Susan Gillet · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:57 am Post subject:

I just went to the NAA and found only 4 entries, but couldn't really access any of them to view the contents. To get information about the hostel and address books for earlier years, I was sent to a different web site, still the NAA but an updated version or something. I've asked for a quote for information about my family's immigration records, but also information about the hostel from 1960-1965. I'll let you know what I get, if anything.
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Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965

richardhallford · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 9:44 pm Post subject: Williamstown/Altona

Yes, the NAA does not let you actually see the contents of the files. The system is fairly hit and miss. They have a policy of recovering overheads and so usually charge around $16.50 for there time, to make the records available. That usually means that some schmuck has to pay to make the records available. The up side is that once they are, they are available for everyone. Tip. If you pay for a hard copy for your own personal or family immigration, the files are NOT made available publicly. You may wish to do this if you feel there is some privacy issues. Bear in mind that once these files are on the NAA, anyone can pay the upfront fee for a digital copy, then they are available to all. I have foulnd that generall the information within files is very interesting. When I got my own and my folks emmigration file, there was a heap of stuff I did not know existed, including photos from the 1960's. Gold. Good luck
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East Hills Hostel Aug 1966 to 1968. Nissen Huts 81 and 83d

Susan Gillet · Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 11:40 pm Post subject:

So how do I ensure that the stuff I'm willing to pay for, especially the hostel address book etc, goes on the "free for all to look at" page? And then how would someone access that? There was mention of an address book for 1966-1970, but I didn't know how to access it.
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Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965

aussietrekker · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:55 am Post subject:

You can order it at the public record office in North Melbourne, but you need to do so in person I think. I ordered it last year, but didn't make it in to view it in time, they give you two weeks.

Susan Gillet · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks Judith.
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Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965

Susan Gillet · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 11:10 pm Post subject:

I am still waiting for the public records office to get back to me regarding the pages I asked for. Seems they've forgotten me. Mad

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Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965

Susan Gillet · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:27 am Post subject:

Ooops, they must have heard me, lol. I got a reply today, but it wasn't helpful. Here is the reply I got:-

Dear Ms Hird,

Thank you for your enquiry of 29 September regarding address books for the Altona (aka Wiltona) Migrant Hostel for the period 1960 to 1966.

In response to the above I have searched the following National Archives record series;

Series B6517; Arrival and Departure Registers for Migrant Hostels, 1950-1986;

Series B6518; Address Books for Migrant Hostels, 1949 � 1987.

Unfortunately I was unable to find any records in either of these series corresponding with what you are seeking. As these appear to be the only series in our collection relevant to your enquiry I have to conclude that the records concerning the time-period in question did not find their way into archival custody, and, if they existed, have been either misplaced or destroyed.

If you would like to discuss, or seek clarification concerning any of the above please feel free to contact me.
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Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965

stormfour · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:41 pm Post subject:

The X Files Shocked

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Carol Myers Altona Hostel Dec 1962 - June 1964