Józef (Josef) Nowak, Fremantle 1949

Born about 1918, Poland. Arrived in Western Australia in March 1949. Later known as Joseph Novak.

IYour question

After Józef Nowak landed at Fremantle in 1949, where did he go, and did he stay in Western Australia?

In your words: “Family story says he came on a DP ship and later called himself Joseph Novak. We have no passenger record and no death.”

IIWhat we found

1.Nowak, Josef, age 31, Polish, S.S. Southern Meridian, March 1949Confirmed

The ship's passenger list for its March 1949 arrival at Fremantle lists "Nowak, Josef, 31, Polish" on page 17, row 12. The next row is "Nowak, Zofia, 29, Polish".

SourcePassenger list, S.S. Southern Meridian, arrival Fremantle, March 1949, page 17. demo link

Why it fits: Name, age and nationality match the family story.

2."New arrivals land at Fremantle", The Harbour Gazette, 16 March 1949Context

The paper reports the Southern Meridian berthing on 15 March 1949 and says the passengers would spend their first weeks at a reception centre near Perth before being placed in work. It does not print his name.

SourceThe Harbour Gazette, 16 March 1949, page 1. demo link

Why it fits: Explains where he went first after landing. Why it is not proof: It describes the whole ship, not him.

3.NOWAK, Jozef, civil birth index, Białystok districtPossible lead, not confirmed

A civil birth index lists "NOWAK, Jozef", parents Dawid and Chaja. Treat this as a lead only.

SourceCivil birth index, Białystok district. demo link

Why it fits: Same name and region. Why it is not proof: The index year does not match an age of 31 in 1949, and Nowak is a common name.

IIIWhat we already checked

• Western Australian historical death index, 1949 to 1985. Searched Nowak, Novak and Nowack with Joseph, Josef and Jozef. No clear match.
• Digitised newspapers, Western Australia, 1949 to 1960. Searched both spellings. Only the arrival report above.
• Online electoral roll indexes, 1950s. No Joseph Novak or Josef Nowak in Western Australia.

What we could not check online

• His migrant selection file is held by the national archives but is not digitised, so we could not read it.

IVThings you can do next

1. 1Request his migrant selection file.Why:It usually records where he was sent to work and any later address.Where:The national archives' immigration records request service. We include a drafted request with your brief.Cost:Fees are paid by you directly to the provider; check the current fee on their site.
2. 2Ask relatives about Zofia.Why:If she is his wife or sister, her later records may show where the family settled.Where:Family letters, photos or anyone who knew them.Cost:Fees are paid by you directly to the provider; check the current fee on their site.

The selection file is not something we order. For a step only you can take, we draft the request, say where to send it, and give a typical fee range and turnaround. You send it. Third-party fees for records you order are paid by you directly to the provider.

Illustrated example. The people, records and links in this sample are made up to show the format of a real brief.