Yesterday Stories

Yesterday Stories Download our free app to watch all the stories. Get access to short video histories linked to real landmarks and locations. Australian local and real histories!

Yesterdaystories.com or on the App store. We encourage everyone to upload their personal stories, family histories, cultural legacies, and more. Connect them to location and share them with the world. Create your own digital legacy to last for generations. Our Brand Values:
Truth - to strive our best to be factual and to search for our truth through our history. Equality - we have the knowledge an

d understanding that stories from every community are equally important. Courage - we are willing to stand up for stories that are important to everyday people and communities, regardless of obstacles.

07/09/2026

"By the age of 10, I had learned not to cry at all... We were nobody's child, and so we were told."

Arriving in Australia as a child migrant in 1949, John Richard Bickneel carried the emotional scars of wartime trauma, childhood neglect, and a lost identity. For decades, child migrants navigated hardship, strict institutional life, and unanswered questions about their origins. Yet, after years of searching through lost records, John uncovered long-lost siblings in England and officially became an Australian citizen on Australia Day 2003 — surrounded by his family as "Australia's child."

Watch this deeply honest and powerful story of truth, healing, and identity.

Follow Yesterday Stories and download the app to see more local stories: https://yesterdaystories.com/



Wollondilly Heritage Centre & Museum Wollondilly Shire Council Barnardos Australia

04/09/2026

Riding to Picton Central School on a packed bus named "Big Bertha," the Barnardo boys weren't outsiders — they were mates, classmates, and teammates. Making up half the school and three-quarters of the footy team, the Barnardo boys brought their own slang, games like 'Kingy', and thick "doorstep" sandwiches spread with "smelly Nelly" (melon and lemon jam).

Watch this heartwarming story of country school days, childhood games, and lifelong friendships in Picton.

Follow .stories and download the app to see more local stories: https://yesterdaystories.com/
Wollondilly Heritage Centre & Museum Wollondilly Shire Council Barnardos Australia

02/09/2026

Every place, every street, every suburb has a story to tell. Do you know your local history? Explore the app on the app store or google play - search Yesterday Stories. Australian Bushrangers AUSTRALIAN HISTORY 🇦🇺 Back To The Past Lost Wollongong & Yesterday Stories Aboriginal Australian People Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum Mount Keira History in Photos Wollondilly Heritage Centre & Museum Wollondilly Historical Page Visit Wollongong

01/09/2026

From child migrant at Mowbray Park to Olympic torchbearer presenting to the Queen Mother, his journey is a poignant story of resilience and gratitude.
Arriving in Australia from England as a Barnardo's child, he built a standout life in the Picton community — serving as school captain and a champion runner. While navigating the pain of lost family records, childhood hardship, and the challenges faced by young migrants forced into early work at age 15, he reflects on his journey with remarkable perspective and grace.

Watch this deeply moving life story of survival, local achievement, and child migration history in the Wollondilly region.

Follow Yesterday Stories and download the app to see more local stories: https://yesterdaystories.com/



Barnardos Australia Wollondilly Shire Council Wollondilly Heritage Centre & Museum

Address

Wollongong, NSW

Telephone

+61418866884

Website

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