Australian Lithuanian Community in Sydney Inc.

On June 18, 1950, a protest day was organised condemning the Soviet Union, which had occupied Lithuanian 10 years earlier. That same year, following the urging of the Federal Executive of the Australian Lithuanian Community (ALC), at a meeting on August 13 it was decided to reorganise the Section into an ALC Regional Community.
A new ALC Sydney Committee was elected, which became very active, calling meetings every Sunday and organising interesting talks to new arrivals. Various subcommittees were again formed, but not much was done by them.
Initially the Committee was reelected annually, but after 1971 biannual Committee elections were introduced. The Committee to this day concerns itself with organising the commemoration of the major Lithuanian national days and various cultural and other events. The Committee also supports the Lithuanian sporting festivals and conventions held within its boundaries, likewise Lithuanian education and other cultural and artistic units.

Bankstown Lithuanian Community

In 1948 – 49 many Lithuanians, completing their two year work contracts with the Australian government, were housed near Bankstown, in the railway workers tent “city” in Chullora and the water reticulation workers camp in Regents Park. Even before completing their work contracts, Lithuanians bought blocks of land in the Bankstown district and started building houses, or alternatively garages that became temporary homes for their families, which they brought to Sydney from holding centres for families established in locations distant from Sydney. Other Lithuanians bought land blocks in the Bankstown district to be near relatives and friends.
The ALC Federal Executive, recognising that many Lithuanians had settled in this southern Sydney district, decided to establish the ALC Bankstown Regional Community. The inaugural meeting was called for March 15, 1953, to which 68 persons came. The meeting elected a 5 member Committee, which very soon realised the need for a community house in Bankstown. Donations were sought and in the beginning of 1954 a block of land was purchased for £750.
Different Committees over a number of years all collected donations and sought the establishment of a community house. During a community meeting in 1956 a council for the building of a Lithuanian House was elected. Lithuanian architects I. Jonaitis and V. Vazgelevičius produced a building plan, which was approved by the Bankstown City Council towards the end of the year. As early as the following year building works were begun, always supported by the Bankstown Community Committee. On March 20, 1958, the weekend school was relocated to the community’s own premises. On May 19 various youth groups organised a fete, with the hall at that stage still not having a floor. The Lithuanian House was blessed by Bishop V. Brizgys on March 18, 1959. Having its own home revitalised the Lithuanian community, with its activities under the care of the annually reelected Committee.