Dutch Artefacts
The Dutch Australian Cultural Centre host many Dutch memorabilia. The collection is currently located at the Abel Tasman Village. The organisation also hosts an extensive book library.
The Centre was established in 1983 with the following two main aims:
- To preserve the rich history of Dutch contact with, and immigration to, Australia;
- To set up a resources facility for anyone wanting information regarding the Netherlands, its people and their traditions.
The DACC has its offices and meeting rooms in the Abel Tasman Village, Chester Hill .
The current Board of DACC, of five members, is detailed on the Contact page. We welcome more members or volunteers to become involved in the research, collection, preservation of our collection and in making it accessible to as many people in Australia as possible.
The Dutch Cultural History Hub
Dutch Culture in Australia
There is a rich Dutch Cultural Heritage in Australia thanks to the over 250,000 immigrants who came to Australia over the years. They formed Dutch Clubs, Retirement Villages, Sporting Clubs and Churches.
Dutch History in Australia
In 1602 the Vereenigde Oost Indische Company (VOC) was formed, the first international cooperation. Their journeys brought them in contact with Australia. The Dutch-Australian relationship started over 400 years ago. The next chapter began during WWII when Australia hosted the Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile. Following the war large numbers of Dutch people migrated to Australia contributing to Australia’s multiculturalism. More recently new pollical and military relationships between the two countries have been established.
History of Dutch businesses in Australia
Already during the Convict period Dutch companies and ships provided their services to the British colony. Australia and the Netherlands were neighbours in relation to Netherlands East indies. Since the 1930s aviation was added into the mix. Globalisation saw many Dutch corporations opening their offices in Australia and the Netherlands became one of the major investors in the country. On a smaller scale Dutch retail shops started to emerge with the arrival of the immigrants.