Leslie Massey
The Ten Pound Poms Scheme was introduced in 1945 to encourage British citizens to migrate to Australia and New Zealand. The Australian government charged a nominal fee of £10 (or around £441 today) for passage to Australia, with children travelling for free. The scheme was designed to boost the Australian economy after the Second World War and to increase the country's population. Over a million British people took advantage of the scheme between 1945 and 1972, and many settled into their new lives in Australia, changing the demographic profile of the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To boost the Australian economy after the Second World War |
| Initiated by | The Australian and British governments |
| Year of initiation | 1945 |
| Targeted migrants | Families and single women |
| Migrant nationalities | British, German |
| Migrant numbers | Over 1 million |
| Migrant period | 1945-1972 |
| Migrant fee | £10 |
| Child migrant fee | Free |
| Return journey fee | £120 |
| Minimum stay in Australia | 2 years |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Ten Pound Poms scheme attracted over 1 million British migrants
The Ten Pound Poms scheme was introduced in 1945 to boost the Australian economy after the Second World War. The Australian government, in collaboration with the British government, devised the scheme to encourage British citizens to migrate to Australia. The fare was set at £10 for adults and free for children, a significantly discounted rate compared to the usual cost of passage, which was around £120. This made emigration affordable for many working-class families and individuals. The scheme was a follow-on from the Big Brother Movement, which was established in 1924 to attract British youths to Australia.
The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, as it was officially known, was part of Australia's "Populate or Perish" policy. The aim was to substantially increase the population and provide workers for the country's booming industries. The Australian government also promised migrants employment prospects, affordable housing, and a better quality of life. From 1945 to 1972, over one million British people took advantage of the scheme, making it the last substantial preferential migration program from the British Isles to Australia. The scheme reached its peak in 1969, with over 80,000 migrants arriving in Australia that year.
The term "Ten Pound Pom" refers to those who migrated to Australia under this scheme. The nickname ""Pom" or "Pommy" for British people was already well-established in Australian English. The term "Ten Pound Pom" was first recorded in the 1970s, and it has become a common way to refer to this particular wave of British migrants. Notable "Ten Pound Poms" include former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, musicians John Farnham and Jimmy Barnes, and actress Kylie Minogue, who is the daughter of two Ten Pound Poms.
Life as a "Ten Pound Pom" was not without challenges. While some migrants quickly settled into their new lives, others faced homesickness and culture shock. The promotional material for the scheme was reportedly misleading, and some migrants were housed in former war camps rather than the suburban areas where most huts were located. Additionally, some migrants experienced hostility and teasing from locals due to their British identity, giving rise to the term "whingeing Pom." Despite these challenges, many "Ten Pound Poms" thrived and felt grateful for the opportunities Australia offered.
The Ten Pound Poms scheme had a significant impact on Australia's demographic profile, contributing to a more multicultural society. While the majority of migrants were British, people from other nationalities also migrated to Australia during this period under various immigration schemes, further diversifying the population. The scheme also had a lasting impact on those who returned to Britain, with at least a third of returnees moving back to Australia, earning the nickname "Boomerang Poms."
Emeralds in Australia: Discovering the Gem's Origin
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The scheme was designed to boost Australia's economy and population
The Ten Pound Poms Scheme was introduced in 1945 to boost the economy and increase the population of Australia after the Second World War. The scheme was a joint initiative of the Australian and British governments. It offered British citizens a subsidised opportunity to migrate to Australia for a nominal fee of £10 (equivalent to £441 or £545 today), with children travelling for free. The normal cost of passage to Australia was about £120, but the Australian government subsidised £110 of this amount. This scheme was a follow-on from the Big Brother Movement, another migration scheme set up in 1924 to attract British youths to Australia.
The Australian government arranged for assisted passage to Australia on chartered ships and aircraft. The scheme was called the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, and it was created in 1945 as part of the "Populate or Perish" policy. It was intended to substantially increase the population of Australia and supply workers for the country's booming industries. Over one million British migrants took advantage of this scheme between 1945 and 1972, with a peak of over 80,000 people migrating in 1969 alone.
The Ten Pound Poms Scheme targeted families and single women due to Australia's demand for labour and a bigger population, with the skilled working classes mainly taking up the offer. Assisted migrants were required to remain in Australia for at least two years or refund the cost of their assisted passage. The return journey to Britain was expensive, costing at least £120 (equivalent to £6,541 in 2023), a large sum in those days. While some migrants did return to Britain, many thrived in Australia, quickly settling into their new way of life.
The scheme was successful in boosting Australia's economy and population. It attracted over one million British migrants, contributing to Australia's workforce and increasing the country's population. The scheme also had a lasting impact on Australia's culture and demographics, with British migrants becoming an integral part of Australian society.
Honey Bees' Diet in Australia: What's on the Menu?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Migrants were required to remain in Australia for two years
The Ten Pound Poms scheme was introduced in 1945 to migrate British citizens to Australia and New Zealand. The fare for passage to Australia was set at £10 (or around £441 today), with children travelling for free. The scheme attracted over 1,000,000 people from 1945 to 1972. Migrants were required to remain in Australia for two years or refund the cost of their assisted passage. The normal cost of a passage to Australia was about £120, but the Australian government subsidised £110 of this. This meant that if migrants chose to travel back to Britain within two years, the cost of the journey would be at least £120 (in 1945 pounds, equivalent to £6,541 in 2023) – a large sum in those days that most could not afford.
During the 1950s and 60s, around 1 million Britons emigrated to Australia, with some 25% deciding that life in Australia was not for them and returning home. An estimated quarter of British migrants returned to the UK within the qualifying period; however, at least a third of British returnees moved back to Australia, leading to the phenomenon of 'Boomerang Poms'.
The scheme was intended to substantially increase the population of Australia and to supply workers for the country's booming industries. It was a follow-on from the unofficial Big Brother Movement, which was another migration scheme set up in 1924 to attract youths from the British Isles to Australia. The Ten Pound Poms scheme targeted families and single women because of Australia's demand for labour and a bigger population, with the skilled working classes mainly taking up the offer.
Ephedra's Legal Status in Australia: What's the Verdict?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Some migrants experienced culture shock and homesickness
The Ten Pound Poms scheme, introduced in 1945, was a British-Australian government initiative to boost the Australian economy after the Second World War. The scheme attracted over a million British migrants between 1945 and 1972, offering them passage to Australia for a mere £10 (or around £441 today).
While many "Ten Pound Poms" quickly settled into their new life in Australia, some experienced culture shock and homesickness. The promotional material for the scheme was reportedly misleading, and some migrants found themselves housed in former war camps. The reality of life in Australia was a far cry from the sunny opportunities promised in the brochures.
Migrants had to adapt to a new and unfamiliar culture, and some faced hostility from locals. One migrant, Glynis Rosser, recalled feeling "out of place" and experiencing teasing and bullying at school because of her pale skin and English accent. The adjustment was particularly difficult for those who had left comfortable lives in Britain, as they now had to contend with a foreign country and a different way of life.
The scheme required migrants to remain in Australia for at least two years, or they would have to refund the cost of their passage, which was a substantial sum in those days. This meant that even those who were homesick or disillusioned with their new lives had little choice but to stay.
The experience of "Ten Pound Poms" highlights the challenges and risks of migration, even when it is done through an official scheme. It also underscores the importance of accurate and transparent information for potential migrants, so they can make informed decisions about their future. Despite the challenges, many migrants eventually thrived and were grateful for the opportunities Australia offered them.
Tasty Treats for Australia's Turtle Doves: A Diet Exploration
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The scheme changed Australia's demographic profile
The Ten Pound Pom scheme was introduced in 1945 to encourage British citizens to migrate to Australia and New Zealand. The Australian government initiated the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme to substantially increase the population of Australia and to supply workers for the country's booming industries. The scheme offered British people a way out of the austerity and deprivation of post-war life, with visions of sunshine and better prospects.
The scheme attracted over a million migrants from the British Isles between 1945 and 1972, with its peak in 1969, when more than 80,000 people took advantage of the scheme. The scale of migration was such that some former troop ships were converted to carry British migrants to Australia. The fee to migrate was £10 for adults, with children travelling for free. This was a dramatic reduction in the usual fare, but migrants were expected to stay in Australia for a minimum of two years or refund the full cost of their passage, which was £120, a large sum in those days.
The scheme targeted families and single women, with skilled working-class people mainly taking up the offer. The promotional material emphasised better job prospects and a sunnier future for children. However, some migrants faced challenges, with some housed in former war camps and experiencing hostility from locals. Nevertheless, for many, the scheme led to opportunities that were unavailable back home.
The Ten Pound Pom scheme was part of a wider White Australia policy, and while it did attract a large number of British migrants, it was not limited to migrants from the United Kingdom. The term "Ten Pound Pom" is a colloquial term to describe the scheme, but it is important to note that it was not the only migration scheme operating at the time. Other schemes, such as the Jennings Germans scheme, also contributed to changing Australia's demographic profile by bringing in migrants from other nationalities.
Understanding Leave Loading Rates in Australia
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
A "Ten Pound Pom" is a person from the UK who migrated to Australia under the Assisted Passage Scheme, a scheme run by the Australian Government after the Second World War. The fare for passage to Australia was set at £10.
The Ten Pound Pom scheme was introduced to boost the economy after the Second World War. It was also intended to substantially increase the population of Australia and supply workers for the country's booming industries.
The scheme targeted families and single women, with the skilled working classes mainly taking up the offer. To be eligible, migrants had to pass a health check and be under 45 years of age.
Assisted migrants were generally required to remain in Australia for two years after their arrival. If they chose to return to Britain within this period, they would have to refund the cost of their assisted passage, which was at least £120.
While some Ten Pound Poms thrived and quickly settled into their new way of life, others were disillusioned and homesick for Britain. Some faced hostility from locals and felt out of place. However, many were grateful for the opportunities provided by Australia and chose to stay.
