Our History
From visionary pioneers to a thriving community. Explore the journey of faith, resilience, and unity that built the Albanian Moslem Society of Shepparton.
A Journey of Faith, Resilience
and Community
Shepparton is home for many people from a wide variety of nationalities. One in ten people now living in Shepparton were born overseas. Albanian migrants were one of the earliest groups to arrive and settle, building a foundation that thrives today.
The Early Arrivals
Albanians from the Korce region began arriving in Shepparton in the mid 1920s. Migration before World War II consisted almost entirely of young single men journeying in search of work.
As seasonal labourers, they found work on farms in rural areas such as Shepparton and in time, they were able to pool sufficient resources to buy small farms of their own.
One of Shepparton’s strongest and most established multicultural communities.
Today there are over 3,000 people who lay claim to Albanian heritage. We are the oldest formally recognised Albanian community in Australia.
The Second Wave & Beyond
The second wave of migration in the mid-1990s brought more families from Korce, drawn by long-established contacts in Shepparton.
While most original migrants worked on the land, today's community excels in all professional, business, and community service fields.
The first purpose-built mosque in Victoria was constructed here in the 1960s, serving as a beacon of our heritage and faith.
Our Story in Pages
The continuing journey of Albanians in Victoria — flip through our history.
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