Bonegilla Identity Card and Memory Collection

Add your family’s story

Help preserve and share your family’s migration story, contributing to the rich tapestry of Australia’s post-war migration history for future generations. These stories will live on as a lasting public legacy of our proud multicultural heritage. Scroll down to find out more.

Prepare your story content

Every family story begins with a memory — something that was lived, seen or passed down through generations. Before you begin, take a moment to gather what you already know and what you might like to share.

This could include the names of the people in your story, the places they lived or travelled through and the moments that stayed with them. You may also wish to collect photographs, letters, documents or short video clips that help bring those memories to life. This media can be added to your story and shared alongside the memories you are recording.

Your story does not need to be long. A few sentences, a single memory or a short reflection can be just as meaningful as a full account. What matters most is that it comes from you and reflects your family’s experience in your own words.

Take a look through our help section before you begin — as this will guide you in preparing and uploading your family story.

Still need help? Contact us for assistance.

Image Photograph Bonegilla Doing the Laundry Bonegilla ARM 91 491

Connect it to your family

Once your story is ready, you can link it to the existing Bonegilla Identity Card(s) of relevant family members who passed through Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre between 1947 and 1971. This step places your memories in context and ensures that your story appears alongside the right people.

You can connect your story to one person or several family members at once. By doing this, you help others see how individual experiences contribute to the wider family history, creating a living record of your shared past.

Ready to begin? Get started

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Submit your family’s story

When you are ready, complete and submit your story through the online form, this must be completed in one session. Once submitted, your story along with any photos or video links you’ve added, will be made publicly available online and featured in the Bonegilla Identity Card and Memory Collection on Bonegilla Migrant Experience’s website.

Your contribution will be carefully reviewed before it is published, helping to preserve the accuracy and integrity of the collection.

Every memory shared, no matter how brief, adds richness to the ongoing story of Bonegilla families and helps future generations connect with the lives of those who came before.

Start your submission

Family arrival
Bonegilla Migrant Experience gratefully acknowledges the Local History Grants Program and Public Record Office Victoria, supported by the Victorian Government.
Victorian Government