
Cedars of Lebanon Hall
ABC Archives, 1963
CEDARS OF LEBANON HALL
Parramatta is a significant centre of Lebanese settlement in Australia. People from the village of Kfarsghab began to migrate to the area in the 1890s and established the roots for Parramatta’s Lebanese community. The easing of immigration restrictions after World War II saw a wave of migration from Europe and by 1963 the Lebanese community in Parramatta was well established and quickly expanding. Here you see members of the community socialising and performing the Dabke, a traditional dance, at Cedars of Lebanon Hall in Parramatta.
UPDATE. Due to strong community interest in this video, the ABC has made available a longer version of this video. View the full recording here
The Team also met with three representatives of the Lebanese community in the lead up to STORYBOX launching in Parramatta.
Watch the video below to learn more about what we learned when we reunited with the dancers of Cedars of Lebanon Hall.
Produced by ABC Content Ideas Lab.
As part of the STORYBOX Partnership, the ABC has curated a selection of archival footage sourced from deep within the ABC's vaults, revealing unique insights into life in Parramatta during the 1950s and 1960s.