Hellqvists journey to Australia

Oscar Hellquist married Vera Plomgren on 22nd March 1930 in Gothenburg Sweden, after meeting her through some mutual friends. Oscar was a furniture upholsterer in Gothenberg. Oscar got a bit restless and they decided to make a big life-changing event and move to another country, either Canada, South Africa, or Australia. Obviously, they chose Australia.

The family including the three kids departed Gothenburg, stopping in Cape Town for a few days, arriving in Melbourne Australia on 16th August 1948 onboard the SS (Steam Ship) Parramatta.

Oscar and mother Maria on the dockside in Gothenburg

Gerd tells of how much she loved the sea voyage, it was an exciting adventure for her.

On arrival in Melbourne, they jumped on a train and headed straight to Sydney where they rented a house in Beecroft, this house was owned by the Consul General for Sweden. It was available while the Consul General and family were on holiday in Sweden.

Gerd recalls that it was cold and the family didn’t have warm bedding. They were loaned some blankets by the ???? family.

Oscar and Vera purchased some land at Marsfield and daily travelled from Beecroft to Marsfield to build their new home helped by the children. The house site was on the corner of Balaclava and Vittoria Roads at Marsfield.

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