My friend, Nonja Peters, is a historian of Dutch migration to Australia, post-WWII migration to Western Australia, and the relationship between the Netherlands and Australia since March 1606. That's when the Duyfken reached the north of Australia and charted 300km of the west coast of Cape York, those on board being unaware that they were the first Europeans to visit the continent.
Through her continuing contacts with the National Archives of Australia, she has discovered a treasure of value to us. Buried in material for students and teachers is the Archives scan of the original agreement between the Australian Government and the Preparatory Commission of the International Refugee Organisation.
That link has only the first page of the agreement. You can read all 3 pages at https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=30156681.
The first link does offer a complete transcript of the agreement and a discussion of its historic importance.
It was signed by Australia's first Minister for Immigration, Arthur Calwell, in Geneva on 21 July 1947. Only 4 months later, Australia's first group of refugees, then known as Displaced Person, were but one week away from arriving in Australia.
The pace at which this was organised is amazing when you think of how some modern projects drag on and on ...
SOURCE
National Archives of Australia: Department of External Affairs [II], Central Office; A13307, Treaties Collection; 46/2, Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Preparatory Commission of the International Refugee Organisation regarding the Migration to Australia of Refugees and Displaced Persons - Date and place of signing: Geneva, 21 July 1947 - Date of entry into force for Australia: 21 July 1947 - ATS Number: [1947] ATS 3 - Language: English [with annotations] https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=30156681 accessed 2 July 2025.
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