Link to the article "O pierwszych osadnikach polskich w Wollongong" of Nov. 17th

The history of the first Polish pioneers of Wollongong starts in June 1854, when Ignacy Zlotkowski from Poland bought his first property in Harbour Street. He arrived to Wollongong already naturalised, wealthy and well educated (spoke few languages) as a professor of modern languages. Zlotkowski married Jane Haigh of Market Square and together with their 5 children lived in Smith Street in Bayalla cottage.

Zlotkowski was a very prominent citizen of Wollongong. He admired the beauty of Wollongong, worried about the town future, participated in many areas of its life.

In 1864 a nomination meeting for Alderman of Wollongong Municipal Council took place at the Court House. Zlotkowski received the most nomination votes. In 1860’s he was a chairman of Wollongong National School, was a Honorary Treasurer of the Agricultural Society, member of Wollongong Improvement Society, a member of Patrick Hill Osborne election committee, chairman of the town’s various meetings as well as an interpreter and arbitrator for non-English speaking servants. According to the Census from 1857 in Wollongong were 65 of them.

Jane Zlotkowski had a private school in Smith Street. One of the Wollongong’s old pioneers wrote in the in the Illawarra Mercury February 1924 Madame was a very talented lady and many Wollongong’s boys can thank Madame Zlotkowski for a sound and liberal education.

Zlotkowski moved to Sydney with his family in 1873 and died in Sydney in 1886. The older citizens of Wollongong still remember the Zlotkowki’s name, because of the area which he once owned. They refer to this area as Zlotkowski’s Heights, Zlotkowski’s Hill or Zlotkowski’s town (In the beginning of 1900’s there were many miners cottages there).

This was a big farming land, well watered, cleared and with a beautiful view of the ocean between Mt. Keira Rd., Robsons Rd. and Keira Mine Rd. After Zlotkowski’s death this land was sold during the big auction on 2 Nov. 1887. Before the auction took place the land was divided and new streets were created and named after the aldermen of Wollongong Municipal Council such as: Parsons, Cochrane, Armstrong and Poulter. None of the new streets were named after Igancy Zlotkowski.

It was a big event for Wollongong as free rides were offered for anyone who wanted to have a look the blocks of land, the music band was playing, and free drinks were offered. Once he was a very respectable citizen of Wollongong, later became a forgotten first Polish Pioneer of this town.

In January 1882 a new Polish family arrived to Wollongong, the family of Victoria and Paul Radeski. Paul and Victoria lived and died in Wollongong. In 1904 Paul became the first Polish person to be buried in this town. Victoria followed him in 1932.

Victoria and Paul Radeski had 7 children and because of the spelling mistake on the Forfarshire list (the ship they arrived on) some children when they became adults used the spelling Radecki.

The family lived in Young Street and Paul worked in the one of the local coal mine. After his death in 1904 Victoria moved to Keira Street with her oldest daughter Valentina. She was the only Radeski’s child who stayed and died in Wollongong. She married Walter Carmody and became one of the Wollongong dressmakers.

In 1883 Radeski’s oldest son John moved to Sydney to continue the education in stain glass window art. Prior to this he tried with his father various jobs including the work in the coal mine. Once they went to Kiama as their heard that there is the opportunity to get a stone breaking job. They were too late, the job had been taken. Tired and hungry Paul and John were walking back through Dunmore and they stopped at William and Elizabeth James’s house. William James, a very respectable citizen of Shellharbour Council, once a mayor of this town helped them by letting them stayed overnight and giving them food and some money which John used to by continuing his study in stain glass window art.

In 1885 John Radecki (he used the spelling with “c”) finished his study and had been employed by Frederick Ashwin who was the owner of J. Ashwin & Co the largest stain glass window company in Sydney. After Frederick Ashwin's death in 1909 John Radecki became the company chief designer and co-owner, and from 1920 until 1954 the owner of the company.

In 1938 John had the opportunity to show his gratitude to William and Elizabeth James for the help he and his father received from them. A new St. Andrews Presbyterian Church was built and John Radecki was commissioned to do a few windows (some of the windows were brought from the old church). He designed, made, dedicated to William and Elizabeth James the Good Samaritan window and donated to the church. Under it he wrote:

I was a stranger and you took me in
“In the grateful remembrance of William James of Shellharbour and his wife Elizabeth who in 1882 befriended artist and his father”.

The help received from James and his wife meant so much for the artis.

By doing the windows he contributed to the architectural history of Wollongong. Also, his company in 1930 made the stain glass windows in St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Chapel. The beauty of the windows contributes to chapel’s special atmosphere.The block of land where is the chapel was owned by Zlotkowski's family from 1854 to 1896.) John had done many beautiful stain glass windows mostly in Sydney and in NSW. His stain glass windows today can be seen not only in many churches but also in the public buildings like: Commonwealth Bank in Martin Place Sydney – the Grand Hall, Mitchell Library in Sydney – the Caxton Window in the Reading Room.

John Radecki worked as an artist to his late 80’s. He visited Wollongong many times as he kept in touch with the family who lived there. Today, the Polish community can be proud of these first pioneers. They not only lived here as prominent and ordinary citizens but also contributed to the history of Wollongong.