Raffles, working bees and a lot of determination
The Centre was built by families who arrived in Australia with very little, apart from a strong sense of who they were and a wish to pass it on. They raised the money through raffles and dances, and put up much of the Centre with their own hands at weekend working bees.
What they built was more than a set of buildings. It became the place for weddings and christenings, Saturday school, folk dancing, soccer, church services and long Sunday lunches, a place where Hungarian was spoken freely and nobody had to explain where they came from.
Almost fifty years on, the Centre is looked after by the children and grandchildren of those founding families, along with newer arrivals and plenty of people with just a little Hungarian in their family tree.
Curious about the bigger story?
If you'd like to understand where it all began, this short video is a good place to start. It covers Hungary's history in about fifteen minutes, from its early days through to modern times.
It's a handy one to share with younger family members who are starting to ask questions about where their grandparents came from.
Culture you can see, hear and taste
Folk dancing, music, food and celebrations that have been passed down for generations, and are still going strong today.
