Damon Mcknight
Australia has a long and complex history of migration, with the continent receiving waves of migration from across the world over several centuries. The first inhabitants of Australia were the ancestors of the present Indigenous people, who arrived between 40,000 to 70,000 years ago. Since then, Australia has seen significant migration from Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world, shaping the country's diverse and multicultural society. The reasons for migration to Australia have varied, including economic opportunities, religious freedom, and escaping adverse situations such as social upheavals, wars, and natural disasters.
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What You'll Learn
Migration from Europe
In the 1800s, the British colonial government strongly encouraged immigration, believing that a larger population was necessary for the economic development and security of the colonies. This led to various assisted migration schemes, which were very successful in boosting the population of the Australian colonies and reducing their dependence on convict labour. Between 1832 and 1850, around 127,000 to 357,000 assisted migrants came to Australia, with most coming from the United Kingdom (including Ireland). After Europeans crossed the Blue Mountains in 1813, Australia also attracted wealthy free settlers who wanted to take advantage of the new land that became available for grazing sheep and cattle.
The discovery of gold in the 1850s further boosted migration from Europe to Australia. During this period, around 230,000 assisted migrants came to Australia, once again making up about 50% of all migrants. This gold rush era led to an enormous expansion in population, including large numbers of British and Irish settlers, followed by smaller numbers of Germans, other Europeans, and Chinese. German Lutherans opposed to church taxes began arriving in Australia in 1838, seeking religious freedom and new economic opportunities.
In the decades immediately following World War II, Australia experienced a large wave of immigration from across Europe. The Australian government believed that having narrowly avoided a Japanese invasion, the country must "populate or perish". Between 1947 and 1953, over 170,000 displaced persons (those who had fled their countries due to war, dislocation, and shifting borders) came to Australia, many from Eastern Europe. A second wave of immigration in the 1950s and 1960s consisted of people seeking employment and better living conditions, including migrants from Italy, Greece, Malta, Croatia, and Turkey. During this period, the Australian government continued to encourage immigration, negotiating agreements to accept more than two million migrants and displaced people from Europe.
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Migration from Asia
During the 19th century, Australia experienced significant migration from Asia, particularly from China during the gold rush of the 1850s. This period also saw migration from Central and South Asia, Japan, and the South Pacific islands, with people coming to work in the growing industries of the colonies. However, from Federation in 1901 until the mid-20th century, Australia's immigration policies, such as the White Australia Policy and the Immigration Restriction Act, restricted non-European immigration. These policies were enforced through a dictation test, which was used to exclude Chinese and South Sea Islander immigrants.
After World War II, Australia launched a massive immigration program, believing that it must "populate or perish" to avoid the threat of another invasion. While this initially targeted displaced Europeans, the White Australia Policy began to be abandoned in the 1960s, and it was officially repealed in 1973. This shift opened the doors for increased migration from Asia, with significant numbers arriving from Vietnam, Cambodia, China, and other Southeast Asian countries. During the 1970s and 1980s, around 120,000 southern Asian refugees migrated to Australia, and the country's immigration programs during this period contributed to its growing multiculturalism.
In recent decades, migration from Asia to Australia has continued to be significant, with China and India being the leading source countries. Australia's migration policies now focus on evaluating potential migrants based on their skills and ability to contribute to the economy, rather than race or ethnicity. This has resulted in a diverse flow of skilled migrants from various Asian countries, contributing to Australia's vibrant and multicultural society.
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Post-World War II migration
The Chifley government's report, commissioned following the fear of an Imperial Japanese invasion during World War II, recommended a 1% annual population increase through immigration. This led to the establishment of the federal Department of Immigration in 1945, with Arthur Calwell as the first Minister for Immigration. Calwell promoted mass immigration with the slogan "populate or perish".
Financial assistance was a crucial aspect of the post-war immigration program. The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, also known as the '"Ten-Pound Pom" scheme, offered affordable travel to Australia, attracting over 400,000 British people by 1947. This scheme was also extended to ex-servicemen of the British Empire, the United States, and certain other Allied countries.
The migration assistance scheme initially targeted Commonwealth countries but later expanded to include countries like the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany. While there were no skill requirements, migrants needed to be in good health and under 45. This influx of migrants helped address labour shortages in the booming manufacturing industry and government-assisted programmes.
Post-war immigration transformed Australian society, with over one-fifth of Australians born overseas by 2001, and it continues to influence the country's economy and settlement patterns. The period stands out for its highly diverse population, with no single birthplace or ethno-linguistic group dominating immigration.
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Migration from India
In the late 19th century, more Indians came to Australia seeking work, mainly as hawkers and agricultural labourers. By 1901, the India-born population of Victoria was almost 1,800. The White Australia Policy was introduced that year, restricting further Indian immigration, except for Anglo-Celtic colonials. This policy made it nearly impossible for Indians to enter the country unless they were merchants or students, who were only allowed to stay for short periods.
After India gained independence from Britain in 1947, an increasing number of British citizens born in India immigrated to Australia, along with Anglo-Indians and other mixed-race European-Indians. By 1954, over 3,000 Victorians were of Indian birth, and the India-born community in Victoria continued to grow significantly in the following decades, especially after the end of the White Australia Policy in 1973. In recent years, India has consistently been one of the top sources of new permanent annual migrants to Australia, with a large number of students and skilled professionals choosing to migrate.
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Convict transportation
Convicts transported to Australia were required to work from sunrise to sunset, Monday to Saturday, as a form of punishment and redemption. They lived under strict rules, and any infractions could result in punishments such as whippings, the wearing of leg irons, or solitary confinement. Despite the harsh conditions, the majority of convicts stayed in Australia after serving their sentences and became settlers. Some even rose to prominent positions in Australian society.
Penal colonies were established in New South Wales in 1788, Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in 1803, Queensland in 1824, and Western Australia in 1850. Transportation to the colony of New South Wales was officially abolished in 1850, and the last convict ship arrived in Western Australia in 1868. Convict transportation to Australia declined in the mid-19th century due to protests against the convict system and a loss of public support.
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Frequently asked questions
The first humans to migrate to Australia were the ancestors of the modern Aboriginal Australians. They migrated from Southeast Asia to Australia by land bridges and short sea crossings during the closing stages of the Pleistocene epoch, when sea levels were much lower than they are today.
The first humans migrated to Australia between 40,000 to 70,000 years ago.
Yes, there were several other migrations to Australia. A wave of migrants from India arrived in Australia about 4,230 years ago. After World War II, hundreds of thousands of displaced Europeans also immigrated to Australia.
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