The memorial to the Great Irish Famine and the young women who came from the workhouses of Ireland to Australia between 1848 and 1850 on a special emigration scheme is the vision of the Irish community in Sydney. The Irish Famine Monument was commissioned by the Historic Houses Trust of NSW (HHT) [name changed to Sydney Living Museums in 2014] and funded by donations from Government bodies, the Land Titles Office and the Irish Community. It was inspired by the call of the President of Ireland, Mary Robinson during her Sydney visit in 1995, that all Irish communities remember the Irish Famine and strive to alieviate poverty in the world today.
History of the Monument
Selection of the Artist
Artist's Vision
The 420 names etched upon the glass panels of the memorial honour the 4114 Irish Orphans who came to Australia as part of the Earl Grey Scheme, extending a tribute to all who perished or fled during the Irish Famine. As a work of art, these names are fixed - no additions, no removals. Not all descendants will find their orphan's name, as the inscriptions were drawn from those who responded to calls for input during the memorial's creation. The gentle fading of the letters serves as a testament to the memory of not only those named, but also those who were not named, echoing the untold story of every Irish Orphan. The workhouse orphans' stories are being gathered in the database section of this website, inviting shared rememberance across Australia, Ireland and beyond.
