About Us

LOCATION:

85 Market Street,

Smithfield, NSW.

Open: Wednesdays,

Fridays and Sundays,

when the shop is open.

The Dutch Australian Cultural Centre Ltd has as its aims and objectives the collection, preservation, promotion and dissemination of Dutch culture and heritage in Australia. It also aims to be a broad based source of information, advice, assistance and interest for the benefit of people of Dutch nationality or descent in Australia as well as for the wider Australian community. It will act as facilitator and intermediator where necessary.

History of the DACC

The DACC Ltd was founded in 1983 and was registered officially on 30 May 1984 as the Dutch Australian Centre Ltd. In 2002 the name was changed to Dutch Australian Cultural Centre Ltd. It came into being because the need was felt to establish a central organisation to preserve the rich history of Dutch immigration in the country.

Another reason was to become a "resources centre" for persons who wanted to study aspects of the Netherlands, be it economics or costumes and habits. A reference library was therefore established and an archive planned. These functions and activities are progressing now.

The first exhibition organised by the centre was in the Bondi Pavilion, in 1983, of Dutch artists living and working in Australia. Several equally successful exhibitions about immigration followed.

With acceptance grew the confidence in the centre and the Dutch Government granted the DAC in 1986 an amount of 15.000 guilders, while the Netherlands Society in Sydney made $500 available for the Reference Library. Further grants were received from the Australian Government in 1995, ($14.500 to employ a part-time administrative assistant in 1996) and in 1997 from the Netherlands Benevolent Fund for the reference library. In the last year $5000 for the archives, $1600 for a website and oral history came from the Dutch Government and a total of almost $12.000 from various Australian Government Institutions. Thanks to all this the centre employed a part-time archivist.

The importance of the DACC grows as the various social Dutch societies and clubs slowly disappear from the scene. However, the grandchildren of the original Dutch immigrants are getting more and more interested in their grandparents' history and want to trace their roots and their lineage. Very few, if any, young members (the children of the immigrants - the second generation) ever joined the existing clubs. They were more interested in assimilating.

There are still a few active clubs left with a broad members base and in a sound financial position. Alas the members are ageing and so are the committees of the clubs. Although this is sad in a way, it makes the position and standing of the DACC Ltd in the Dutch community stronger. The clubs want their history preserved and have been collecting their minute books and other documents to hand them over to the archives. Many older Dutch people are doing the same. After all these years the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre has finally come into its own.

Since 1993 the DACC Ltd had been able to use a building in the grounds of a retirement facility, the Abel Tasman Village in Chester Hill. This was made possible through the support for the centre from the late Anton Kool, who for many years was Chairman of the Federation of Netherlands Societies Ltd. However, with the ageing of the Dutch immigrants comes a greater need for care and consequently for more space. The DACC vacated the building and moved to 85 Market Street, Smithfield.

Publications for Sale

The DACC has produced a number of publications which are available for sale.

Library and Archives: mission statement

The Dutch Australian Cultural Centre Reference Library and Archives exist to disseminate knowledge and history of Dutch culture and promote the study thereof in Australia by collecting any material relevant to the Dutch-Australian link, for the wider Australian community, in particular those of Dutch descent.

Over the years the collection of books has grown considerably, and of course continue to grow. Many Dutch people donate books along with documents and photos.

There is an extensive segment of books about WWII, both in English and Dutch, the former Dutch East Indies and of course Dutch history. A small number of novels are also kept as a snapshot of the taste of the immediate postwar immigrants.

The Library is accessible on request and every possible assistance will be given. As it is a Reference Library, books can be accessed, but cannot be borrowed.

 

A Newsletter is published quarterly. As well as keeping members informed about the goings on in the DACC, it also tries to have a calendar of events and a section for "letters to the editor". All contributions are welcome, especially if people have advance knowledge of upcoming events..

MORE HERE

© Jo M

From the Coffs Harbour City Council website:

“Coffs Harbour has also had a special part to play in this exhibition, including providing tiny clogs for some of the marionettes,” said Gallery Director/Curator Dr Leigh Summers.

“We also have many wonderful Dutch attractions here – including the Clog Barn and the Windmill Restaurant - which will host the volunteers who created the works during their stay.  

“This exhibition will appeal to young and old alike and, since it involves woodwork, collage, embroidery, appliqué, dressmaking, painting, architecture and puppet-modelling, there really is something to inspire and intrigue everyone.

The accompanying rich historical detail and the documentation of the progress of each work will not only engage people with a Dutch background, but also anyone who understands the pull that our individual cultural history has over us all.”

Coffs Harbour City Council

Klaas Woldring:

"The exhibition "Echoes of the Past", mentioned in the recent DACC Newsletter, was opened in Coffs Harbour on 9th December at the Bunker Cartoon Gallery. Four members of the DACC board were there as were several representatives of other Dutch clubs (amongst them Jan and Mia Joosten of the Rembrandt Club), around 130 plus people all told.

The opening was a great success. Several media representatives of the region were there as well and reported on it. An invitation to display the exhibition at the forthcoming Dutch Tweed Heads Festival was issued and accepted in principle. It is significant that the DACC has ventured into new territory with this exhibition. Full marks to Project Coordinator Frances Larder and her group of volunteers many of them were there as well. It was the result of five years labour of love!

Thanks also to the Clog Barn for clog donations.

Dr. Nonja Peters, Head of the Curtin University Migration Research Centre was one the inspiring opening speakers.

The Dutch Folk Dancing Group performed several traditional dances.

Klaas Woldring reminded the attendees of the special role the Dutch have placed in discovering the Great Southland early in the 17th century.Even the contribution by Guillaume Delprat as General Manager of Broken Hill Pty limited for 22 years, early in the 20th century, got a mention.

A dinner was held the next day, fittingly at the Windmill Restaurant in Coffs Harbour, a Dutch icon in that thriving city, where 52 enjoyed an excellent meal. All and all an excellent start to the exhibition."

The concept developed by artist, Frances Larder, guiding her 30+ volunteers through 5 years of getting together in a number of locations, on the coast of NSW, was on show, 9 Dec., 2011 until 28th January 2012, at the “Bunker Cartoon Gallery” in Coffs Harbour.

"Echoes from the past" is a DACC project.

© Jo M.
© Jo M.

"Echoes from the Past"~ Explained to a Federation of Netherlands Societies NSW meeting.

 30+ volunteers worked on the "Echoes from the Past" project, during five years and in several locations.

Australia on the Map 1606 -2006 ~ the D.A.C.C. supported this initiative.

Current DACC Newsletter.