Many Estonian sailors jumped ship to join the goldrush in the 1800s. We don’t know who they were but there is a record of Alfred Julius Sickler, a doctor in the goldfields, taking out NSW citizenship in 1859.
Gustav Einsaar, a ships captain, arrived in NSW in 1896. He became a coalminer in the Hunter Valley. Together with Jakob Lukats and Adolf Godberg he set up the first Estonian organisation in Australia, the Estonian Association “Southland” (Eesti Ühistu “Lõunamaa”. At the time there were about 100 Estonians living in Sydney and the surrounding area.
The next wave of migrants arrived in the 1920s. They were shopkeepers, farmers, tradesmen, musicians and small businessmen. Some moved to Thirlmere and became chicken farmers and orchardists. Others, who stayed in Sydney, were mainly shopkeepers and tradesmen.
They soon formed organisations and arranged social and cultural events in rented premises. They had a choir, folk dancing group, and a language school for children. Most importantly, they formed a cooperative society to build their own Estonian House which opened in 1940.
After WW II there was a great influx of Estonians to Sydney and with the increase in activities the existing Estonian House became too small. Buying the houses and shop next door enabled the House to be extended. The new extension was opened in 1958.
After Estonia regained her independence there has been a steady stream of young Estonians arriving in Sydney. They have refreshed the community and enlivened the activities in Estonian House which now is being renovated to give it a new lease of life.
