The stories of Greek migrants to Australia came to life on Friday, June 6 at the official launch of Finding Home, a powerful new exhibition held at the Bonegilla Migrant Experience near Wodonga, Victoria.
Around 40 people gathered for the opening, which featured a presentation, a panel discussion and a guided tour of the historic site, formerly known as the Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre.
The exhibition, a collaboration between Wodonga Council and the Dardalis Archives of the Hellenic Diaspora at La Trobe University, honours the Greek migrant experience and explores themes of identity, resilience, and belonging.
Among those attending were Wodonga Mayor Michael Gobel, Greek archivist and exhibition curator Emmanouela Giannoulidou, former Bonegilla resident Ilias Tsinanis and his son Zac, Dr Guinever Threlkeld (Albury-Wodonga Head of Campus, La Trobe University) and La Trobe University Librarian David Groenewegen.
For Mr Tsinanis, who spent two months at Bonegilla in 1967 as a 10-year-old, the return to the centre was deeply moving and brought back a lot of memories of the uncertainty his family faced during their early days in Australia.
The exhibition showcases personal artefacts, photographs, suitcases and letters from Greek migrants, drawing from the vast Dardalis Archives — one of the largest collections of Hellenic diaspora material in the world. It offers a heartfelt insight into the migrant journey and the lasting cultural legacy left by those who passed through Bonegilla, including over 18,000 Greeks between 1947 and 1971.
Curator Ms Giannoulidou said Finding Home aimed to capture both the challenges and triumphs of migration.
“Beyond the challenges of displacement, these migrants carried with them their rich heritage, vibrant culture and cherished memories,” she said.
Mayor Gobel praised the collaboration with La Trobe University and the significance of the exhibition.
“This is a poignant celebration of our Greek migrant community and a shining example of the enduring partnership between Wodonga Council and La Trobe,” he said.
Finding Home opens to the public on Friday, June 6, and will run until June 30, 2026.
