This month, a moving tribute will unfold at Famine Rock in Williamstown, Victoria, as descendants and locals gather to honour the Irish famine orphan girls who arrived in Australia between 1848 and 1850. 

On Sunday, November 17th, from 2pm to 4pm, the annual commemoration will mark the 175th anniversary of the arrival of two key ships, New Liverpool and Pemberton, which brought young Irish women to Hobson’s Bay.

The event, open to all, will feature live music, presentations, and the deeply symbolic Laying of the Flowers ceremony, where descendants of these brave young women pay homage to their ancestors. These orphan girls, victims of the devastating Irish famine, embarked on a journey that would forever change the course of their lives and Australia’s cultural fabric. The Earl Grey Scheme, which brought them to Australian shores, remains a key chapter in the nation’s immigrant history.

Held at Burgoyne Reserve near Stevedore Street, the event promises to be a heartfelt occasion. 

For more information, go to the Irish Famine Orphan Girls Commemoration Facebook page.


Pictures: The Famine Rock memorial in Williamstown, Victoria. Credit: Facebook/Irish Famine Orphan Girls Commemoration