The National Monument to Migration adds 879 newly-inscribed names today, unveiled over two celebratory ceremonies at Pyrmont Bay, Darling Harbour, hosted by the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Attended by hundreds of family, friends and community members, the ceremonies featured host, SBS journalist Virginia Langeberg, and guest speakers - including Anyier Yuol, a South Sudanese refugee who grew up in Kenya, and was winner of the 2023 SBS Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition, and guest speakers from Malaysia, Poland, Lebanon and Greece.
The latest honourees join more than 32,000 names from over 140 countries already inscribed on the Monument, with more names added each year. This year’s unveiling includes 192 new inscriptions honouring people from the Greek island of Kythera.
The Museum’s Acting Deputy Director, Michael Baldwin said ‘The National Monument to Migration is a living record and testament to our shared national heritage. The lived experiences behind each name inscribed on the Monument come from all over the world, but their stories are unified by the striving for hope for a better life.
‘The Monument is really a celebration of all who have come to build a life here, whose journeys to these shores have helped to shape our nation. Their families, hopes and aspirations have contributed to the making of the success story that is multicultural Australia.
‘We are grateful to our supporters and donors, especially for the Migration Heritage Fund, which allows us to continue to preserve and celebrate our rich national migration heritage.’
The Australian National Maritime Museum is home to the National Monument to Migration and its parallel digital hub, Faces of Migration, which shares the migration stories behind some of the people whose names have been inscribed on the Wall, adding new stories each year, as the Monument continues to grow.
Donors can also contribute a brief story about the person being honoured by the inscription, details of which are published on the museum website.
The museum is now accepting names for the next panel on the Monument, open until June 30, 2023.
For further information go to www.sea.museum/support/national-monument
ABOUT THE NATIONAL MONUMENT TO MIGRATION
The National Monument to Migration (also known as the Welcome Wall) at the Australian National Maritime Museum commemorates those who have migrated from countries around the world to make Australia their new home. The name of any person who was born overseas and settled in Australia may be registered on the Monument. Registration opens during limited periods each year and a donation applies for each inscription. The Monument is situated on the northern promenade of the museum, facing Pyrmont Bay which is historically a place where many migrants first arrived in Sydney. The first names were unveiled on the Welcome Wall on January 24 1999, by the Governor General Sir William Deane AC KBE KStJ KC. On March 21 2021, Governor General, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC elevated the status of the Welcome Wall to become Australia’s National Monument to Migration.
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