Following the second world war, the largest group of displaced persons immigrating to Australia came from Poland. Between 1947 and 1952, approximately 63,000 Poles arrived in Australia.

In that period a large number of Poles came to Tasmania and formed new communities in this state.

A significant number of them settled in Northern Tasmania especially Launceston. While initially strangers to each other, they shared memories of horror, fighting, loss, displacement, imprisonment and forced labour and this bonded them into a local community.

In order to sustain cultural cohesion, maintain the spiritual and ethnic traditions and promote a sense of identity the Poles of Launceston and Northern Tasmania formed an informal support group.

These original migrants galvanised the Launceston and Northern Tasmanian Polish community into a thriving unincorporated association. The community raised funds for the purchase of land on the corner of Bathurst and Canning Street upon which to erect their Dom Polski – Polish House, to serve as a base for the conduct of the association’s activities.

The community provided the labour and funds, to the extent of mortgaging their own homes, for the erection of Dom Polski and it soon became the cultural centre of the Launceston and greater Northern Tasmanian Polish community and the focus of its social and cultural activities. These activities included functions on Sundays after Polish Mass in the nearby Church of the Apostles, the establishment of a Polish school, Christmas and New Years Eve functions, feast and name days, and functions in remembrance of those who had fallen to the Germans and the Russians.

The foundation was created with the aim of fostering Polish culture without the financial burden of maintaining an aging building.

However, the Polish community in Northern Tasmania has evolved over the years. The current generation is more affluent and many frequently returned to Poland to sustain their language and cultural connection. The building, once the central hub of Polish life, was no longer so important or necessary and to keep maintaining it for sentimental reasons disrespected the motives of the original pioneers.

It was decided that by selling the building the aims of the original pioneers would be better served.

The Polish Pioneers Foundation Trust was established in 2007, and the house was sold in 2013.  The foundation was created with the aim of fostering Polish culture without the financial burden of maintaining an aging building. It was a difficult time for the Polish community, as each had his/her own fond memories of times spent there.

However, the current trustees, descendants of the original pioneers, are honouring the wishes of all those displaced pioneers who ended up in Tasmania, forged their lives here, and regarded the Dom Polski as their little bit of Poland.

The foundation was established by a deed. That deed sets out the aims and objectives of the association as follows:

• Promoting and ensuring the preservation of the memory of the Polish pioneers, who settled in Launceston between 1947 and 1957.
• Encouraging and promoting, among the public, knowledge of, interest in, and respect for the Polish pioneers.
• Promoting or ensuring the provision of maintenance of amenities and services to facilitate the enjoyment of life of the Polish pioneers.
• The promotion and maintenance of Polish, culture, and traditions.
• Sustaining and retaining the interest of the descendants of the Polish pioneers in Polish culture and traditions and heritage.
• Promoting multiculturalism, access to Justice, medical, dental, hospital, and other services for the Polish pioneers and their descendants.
• Doing anything which may memorialise, honour, or pay tribute to the Polish pioneers.
• The Trustees are given powers by the deed to further the purposes and objectives of the foundation.

In order to do that, the trustees have done the following:

• Established a memorial to the Polish pioneers situated at King’s Park in Launceston. There are photographs of that memorial on the website.
• Provided financial assistance to the original pioneers.
• Sponsored Polish Masses.
• Provided financial assistance for the Polish priest to travel from Hobart to Launceston.
• Sponsored the conduct of academic research in Poland.
• Sponsored the publication of a book about the history of the Carpathian Brigade.
• Hosted Christmas functions for current and original pioneers.

The trustees meet four times a year to discuss achieving the objectives of the foundation. The trustees donate their time and skill on a completely voluntary basis.