This article, dated back in April 21, 1966, highlights the establishment of Eesti Maja (Eesti Tare) here in Perth at that time. Before the influx of Estonian backpackers to Western Australia in 1990’s, there are loads of fascinating and captivating stories just waiting to be discovered from that era.
It is estimated around 10,000 Estonian refugees made their way to Australia after the Second World War and became part of the diaspora teaching their children Estonian culture and the language.
EstWest endeavors to bridge the gap between these generations, forging valuable connections along the way. Through our efforts, we’ve found out the original address of this Eesti Maja, which was situated in Bayswater.
Moreover, we’ve learned that this place housed a library with over 900 Estonian books, which further enriched the cultural and intellectual landscape of the Estonian community in Perth. Additionally, some community members are now collaborating with Eesti Arhiiv to preserve valuable cultural records from this era.
Are you interested in learning more about the experiences of post-war Estonian migrants who lived here in Western Australia?
Our Honorary Consul Anu Van Hattem is also hosting a WA Estonian history workshop on 4th of May in the Estonian Consulate and we would kindly like to spread the word about this event. More information about this event can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1466376233967948
Would you like to take part of creating history and rebuild Eesti Maja again in Perth?