The history of Australian Romanies, now and then

49 Comments

• John

  Hi Yvonne I've left my Email Adreess can we talk by Email if that's ok I'm a British Romany. Thanks. Regards John.

• Chris Bryson

  Do you know if any Romany went over to NZ in the early 1900's? I have a dear old friend who comes from there (she's 83yrs) who is swarthy and says her father was very dark in skin and hair. She was an excellent horse rider and bookkeeper for her father in her youth. She also has the "gift" which she has not utilised because of family religious and contemporary beliefs. Only recently I have shown her that it is ok about her ancestry by taking her to festivals etc. She would like to find out more about NZ Romany people. If you can help on you site -that would be great.

• Sandra

  I remember sometimes Romanies calling at our house in Geelong and offering to tell our fortunes and seeing Romanies along the sides of the road between Melbourne and Geelong in the early 1950s. I am so glad to find this article as i often wonder where those Romanies are now.

• Hony Johan

  I am glad we live at at time were everyone feels they can talk about our culture . when we were children were told never to tell anyone. and there are so many people who have this shared story

• Yvonne Slee

  Romani history does not date back to the time of Christ. As it mentions in the ABC Open story above, notable scholars such as Professor Ian Hancock have determined that Romani history dates back to India in the 11 century when large groups of Indians were forceably removed by the Ghaznavids army led by Mamhud of Ghazni to serve in the Ghaznavid Emirate. These people later migrated into Europe in the 14th century and became the forefather's of the Romanies. We were Hindu's when we were taken out of India and spoke Sanskrit language. The myth that we were around at the time of Christ is just that, a myth. Yvonne Slee

• AnonymousGypsyBoyMelbourne

  The truth about Gypsies to day ill tell you all im not gonna say my name i live in Victoria im a muchwano/sterio today Gypsies are for getting Who we are where we come from by that i mean the mother and fathers are letting there sons and daughters marry guyjay not that guyjay are bad its not our coulture to marry a guysho/guyshe we are Roma we bern around since the life of christ if u no about the romani story the 4 nails of christ i love all my romani ppldont be like the Gypsy here in mel and sydney keep our coulture a live dont let your romani roots go keep them to your heart gb you all and keep u safe

• Christo sterio

  There is alot of Gypsies out there all kinds and we all speak it a lil diff im a greek gypsy out of the sterios my grandfather mitcho came from vegas his father from Grace they was all showman fromvic qld and nsw its Good u all want to learn our coltue but even tho you dont no much be proude we are all Rromani adell tu odell baxtelle saste mossa OPRE ROMA

• Ricky

  Hello te avan bachtole sast moss (wish you Luck and health

• Truth

  Call them gypsies so there's no confusion. You make it sound like they are Romanians (from Romania) which is totally different. Gypsies are in many countries and are originally from INDIA.

• Noosman

  I want to marry a hot gypsy girl :)

• Bronwyn Bridgewater

  Hi Yvonne, My family is part of the Travelling Showmen community. In January 1961 I was in Maryborough Victoria at the Scottish Highland Festival. The Showmen allowed a Gyspy widower to camp among them, he had a son who was 7 yrs old and an older daughter, Linda, I think. There was a huge storm that hit the town and the daughter was killed by a pine tree as she pushed her brother out of the way. The brother was hit by a tree and became a paraplegic. I am told he late became a jeweller. I was 7 at the time also, and have never forgotten that storm or the family. I was wondering if you have heard of this story or family?

• Kathi Suminer

  Hi Yvonne, I have just found this great site. Please keep it up. I have been trying to set up a web site for the past 2years, Since the folding of Australian Romani Association but I had a lot of offers and then withdrawals as soon as they knew what it was about. They were all scared to be associated with it for fear of prejudice. Thank you for standing up and saying you are proud to be Romany. I am from Smiths on both sides and also Boswells and Lees on my fathers side. I am trying to find the descendants of Tommy and Randle/Henry Smith who came to Tasmania as convicts in 1837. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Let give our heritage a positive image instead of the negative stereotype we usually get in other places. Kushti bok. Kat

• Tania Lloyd

  Hello , I'm trying to find a group in my area of Romani people, I'm from England where my grandfather owned Roses fairground near oxford, I was brought up indoors but lived in vans too , my mother was born in a vardo. I'm 55 now and live in Melbourne on the Mornington peninnsula please let me know of any information . My family Romani names are Rose and Stanley. Thank you Tania

• Helen

  I was wondering if anyone knew anything about an old gypsy man who lived for a long time in the Angahook Forest near Anglesea Victoria Australia. I understand he died some years ago but his funeral was attended by gypsy people from all over the world.

• Hony Johan

  Hello Yvonne, The story you describe sounds like the stories my father told me about my grandfather coming to Australia in early 19th century and the lifestyle of traveling camping and show and picking my grand father lived in a silver bus I grew up as an half Australian/gypsy girl traveling with family through towns myself with large caravans and trucks my self. My grandfather came on a boat from Greece. I would love to talk to you to see if you have any photographs of this time and my family. Kind Regards Hony Johan

• Tim Slee

  Sorry about that. It's great great grandfather.

• Tim Slee

  @Vasil lolo We are Sinti and our great great great grandfather was greatly discriminated by the Germans in the 1800 and 1900 and we were forced not to speak our own language by my great great great grandfather being removed from his Romani family as a baby and put into a christian family and that was the government policy back then. If you knew about our history you would know about what happened to us in the past! And Gypsy is spelled with a capital 'G' because we are a culture! But we should really be called Romani! It is a shame that there are people like you out there who don't understand!

• Vasil lolo

  Hi if you are a reall gypsy can you speak the gypsy language ?? I came here with my family from Europe in 1996 we are real gypsy people

• Jazmine

  Hi I'm Jazmine, I'm a Romani gypsy and I'm very proud to be apart of the gypsy society, I love it, I love travelling, gold but I also love telling the stories of us gypsies the history and our culture, we are fabulous :)

• Autumn Onions

  On my Dad's side i found out I'm part Romani Gypsy. Wish I could learn more

• laura tester .

  I am from canning town and have always known my heritage , and very proud of it...my family are the lee/ smith/ boswell. and others...my father was pure blood, mum was not...people are amazed at how many of us there are out here, and have little knowledge of our history...

• Ross Kilpatrick

  Just found out through Family Finder FTDNA tests that my Maternal Grandmother Alice Sanlaville's French ancestry is Romani. This is most exciting as many of my Grandmother's family were Indian looking and we thought that it was from Arabic or Moorish influences in France. This new found information has relaunched my whole life.I am proud of this heritage.

• Gary

  Wow we r roma from south africa,there r very few left in SA as most have left.I am also leaving for NZ and was worried about my sons not finding ethnic cultural roma girls to marry I am so happy to know of the sizeable roma community in AUS

• Janet Baxte

  I hope that this page continues we are exploring our Romani roots and are descended from the Roberts Family who have been here from the 1850's at least. They were contract drovers ,surveyors and miners. There has been a lot of denial of our background and connections with Scottish and Welsh Gypsies from the 1930's and I feel ashamed of this ,let's hope the next generation renew their pride and culture.

• Chris Hoprton

  My Great Grandmother was a Romney who lived in a caravan in England untill she was 12 when she went into service as a maid. She married outside the faith but the Romney Heritage is apparent in my children. The interesting thing is that I needed a bone marrow transplant 15 years ago and I thought with my obscure heritage I would struggle to find a match. Not so but I would like to know more about the Romney.

• Andrea Boardman

  Hi Yvonne. I've been reading about Romani DNA projects. Have you ever had your DNA tested to find out your ancestry? If you haven't 23andMe in the USA is a good one. Thank you and the best of luck to you. Andrea in San Diego, California USA

• sharon hodgkin

  I think my English forefathers are romani.. both sides smith and hodgkin Migrated to Australia bout 1860

• Terry Cannon

  I am an Irish Traveller, not a Romany gypsy. I was brought up in a caravan, and still live in one, on the outskirts of Sydney. I am a legitimate businessman, making my money in bare knuckle boxing, amateur pharmaceuticals and home handyman work. I still feel the hatred, every day.

• Richard Freeman

  Thanks for posting this info , we're from the cherry island gypies Lee family Chinderah Lee descendants , living in Queensland ,if ever there a get together I saddle up the Motorhome

• sandip

  hey all u..i m from india n i m not from gipsy comunity. but i like gipsy culture too much..it is now clear that u r from india(genetical study also proved). in india there is large gipsy community. so why should u r not traveling to india i.e. u r motherland. u wil get lot to learn...wel come india....Namaskaram

• Davey Patterson

  Well, well, who would have guessed so many romani coming out of the woodwork. My family came here in the 50's & 60's. Dad was a merchant seaman who jumped ship in Melbourne and settled in Sydney afterwards all the brothers and sisters came here as well. They didnt like talking much about their heritage and when we kids mentioned the word I would get a dig in the side from dad. As the years passed and so did they I was able to get a few stories out of one or two and tie up a few loose ends. Some of you have asked about tracing family. One of my cousins has used Ancestory and been able now to track back to the 1500's through British, Births Deaths and Marriages. An incredible effort and many fascinating stories. My main regret is I only know a little of my dads language and would love to be able to pass this on to my own. Language is a big part of culture. Language can be learnt but is not quite the same as coming down from the mother tounge. There are many amazing stories which need to be shared. Maybe one day. we will all cross paths. I have a little song I wrote and I will share. Fires are still burning at the old atchin tan Spirits of our relatives are standing around Whatchin over us to see how we fair. Memories of their old lives we try to keep alive Our dreams their reality, of life upon the road Meeting up with family, havent seen you in a while. One day we'll sing and dance with them all the vardo in a line Kushty singers singin songs of loves and the divine of places that weve been too and places yet to go We'll all pack up and move along when the gavver shows. Davey Patterson 2012.

• Kate Campbell-Lloyd

  Wow what a valuable contribution you are all making! Yvonne I have a special book that you should inherit from me. I found it in Innisfail and paid 50C for it. When I attended The Woodford Festival in Qld, just north of Brisbane, I attended a history talk on Romani Gypsies and afterwards told the gentleman about this fabulous book I had on what led up to a huge Exodus from Europe just prior to WW2. He knew it and called it a collectors item! If you give me your details we could meet up when I come to Sydney to see family. I also wanted to say that my nephew had a condition named dyspraxia; a side affect from a pregnancy medication given for nausea in the 50's. He fell off his horse recently and died. It turned out that a Romani gypsy family had befriended Justin many years ago and looked after his horse for him. My aunt would let him go and live with them until he returned to her out of the blue! Justin had two funerals. My cousins said the Romani funeral was amazing; they burnt his gypsy caravan that his mother bought for him to live in while with them. I think Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have often been there for Aussies in much the same way!

• Gabrielle

  Hi I am 24 years old my grandfather was a Romani gypsy I am livening in Australia I am wanting to get married and I want my family culture to play a part in my wedding but I want the true culture of my family can some people that no more about this than me give me some advice and some ideas

• LInda Boswell

  Hi All I am Romanichal from England UK. Richard Ward I am related to the Hearns wonder if we are connected?

• Xrystine Waide

  Hi :) Thank you for your blog i really enjoyed reading it. I too am apart of the the gypsy Community, I was born in Victoria into a family that lived by the Gypsy way of life. We traveled Australia fruit picking when my father was not performing in the circus.We lived in tents and Caravans. All my siblings are born all over Australia.I am a practicing Gypsy Psychic and very proud to be so. Thank you once again, I am proud and happy our traditions are living on in wonder people like you X

• Helen

  Mum and Dad said when they travelled north up on the Hume Hwy enroute to Canberra and Sydney in the mid 50s they saw the Gypsies driving Buicks and camping on the roadside.

• Sally

  Yvonne's story is so interesting to me. I lived in a little town in Queensland when I was a child. Each year, gypsies would pass through our town, where they came from or where they went nobody knew. I have been trying to trace their route. Somehow from speaking to people, I feel they worked with the show, as that is when they arrived and left, but they didn't stay with the show people. I am fascinated by the people I never saw, but knew when they were in town.

• leslie

  I have a Rom father. He is very reticent about it. I understand that as Rom is matriarchal perhaps technically my sister and I have no claim as Roms ourselves however I live on the mid north coast and would like to attend any get togethers in Coffs if possible. My heritage is there in my looks and creativity and I want to understand more than just the history. I would also like to trace my ancestry if possible as I am sure my english name is not our original.

• rick morgan (sterio)

  my dati is was full gypo. i'm a domesticated gypsy, as in saying that. went to school and pay all my taxes. lol. i never had much to do with dati's family life. there was a lot of gypsy culter he believed in.

• Marnie

  May I ask is it possible that gypsies can also be found in asia?

• Danyel

  I asked my Grandamama about our cultural heritage and she said we were romanian gypsies, which is romny? I think.. I was just wondering how I'd get in contact with other gypsies, I want to learn about my families culture and heritage.

• Bobby

  Yes there's a few gypsies here in Sydney & there's a lot in melbourne melissa reynolds

• Vanessa Milton

  Thanks Yvonne for a fascinating read, and for the great conversation you've provoked in the comments thread.

• RICHARD WARD

  my dad is a gypsy , from london. His mothers side where full blood , Hearn family may have Irish origins. As kids we had vague stories of mythical gypsies. Da came out after the war to live in Australia, we've sadly had little contact with the gypsy side of his family. I now have kids & they want to know their heritage which has ignitied my passion. Dad is 87 with dimentia so memories are diminishing but he goes back regularly to memories of a gypsy childhood. I so wish to understand my culture as I see so much of my life fits with what little I understand of my culture. Where do I go from here ????

• melissa reynolds

  Wow, where do i start? My dad is gypsy full blood from england, bimingham.He is a ten pound pom gypsy, i dont no any other gypsys other than dad and my two sisters, my mum is white aussie. I want to learn everything i can learn about our culture, my dad is 82 in four days, he has no contact with any of hes relatives. He left home in engla d with the army when he was 15 he has always played the claranet travelled the world with the army and music. I just want to learn sooo much, when is the next info day atcoffs harbour or are there any closer to sydney????

• Kelvyn Cunnington

  Hello. My great Grandmother was a Romani Gypsy. When i was a young child i was always told this and have since learned that it was true. I have not yet traced my lineage but hope to do so in the future. It explains alot about my family and thier unusual ways (not a negative comment)...thanks - Kelvyn

• Sonia Meyer

  Dear Yvonne, in an environment of much bickering, while Roma in Europe are suffering and unprotected, you are a shining star. You understand, that for a minority to survive you have to make healthy and conciliatory connections to the majority. Bridges have to be built and maintained, not destroyed. Anyway, it is a blessing to know you. Sonia Meyer

• Pauline Lee.

  I find your writing very Interesting to read. I am an Irish Born Romany whose Father and Forefathers came from Nt. Wales. My Father traveled to Dublin Ireland where he and my Mother settled and i was born along with some of my Sisters and Brothers . My people come from the Kale tribe. Dosta Kushty Bokt Miro Pen. XXXXX

• Ruth Barnett

  Yvonne has made a great contribution to the growing amount of material available on the internet for people everywhere to learn about Roma/Gypsy/Travellers. It is so good to see Gypsies organising themselves and beginning to challenge their unjust treatment. The problem I am trying to tackle is the appalling ignorance and indifference of ordinary non-Gypsy people. Too many people do not yet realise that Gypsies have been around in Britain at least 500 years; longer than most families can trace their ancestry n Britain! The are part of the community and have to be accepted as such and treated with equality and fairness and we are a long way from this at present. Ruth Barnett

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