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Indian immigration to Australia has a long history, dating back to the early days of the British colonisation of Australia. The first wave of Indian migration to Australia occurred during the 1800-1860 period, with many Indians working as labourers, domestic workers, camel drivers, and hawkers. However, it wasn't until the post-World War II period that Indian migration to Australia began to increase significantly, with the country's restrictive immigration policies being gradually relaxed. Today, Indians are the second-largest migrant group in Australia, with a population of over 700,000, and they have had a significant impact on the country's culture, economy, and society.
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What You'll Learn
Indian Australians' cultural impact: from language to dance
Indian Australians have had a significant cultural impact on Australia, contributing to the country's diversity and richness in various ways, including language, religion, cuisine, and performing arts.
Language
Indian languages have become an integral part of the Australian linguistic landscape. According to the 2011 census, Hindi and Punjabi are among the top ten languages spoken at home in Australia, with significant numbers of speakers. Other Indian languages spoken in Australia include Tamil, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, and Konkani. This multilingualism enriches the Australian cultural tapestry and fosters a more inclusive society.
Religion
The religious diversity of Indian Australians has also left an imprint on the country's spiritual landscape. Hinduism, Sikhism, and Catholicism are the most prominent religions among this community. The presence of these diverse faiths has contributed to the establishment of religious institutions, such as the construction of the first Sikh temple in Woolgoolga, a town in New South Wales.
Cuisine
Indian cuisine has become an integral part of the Australian food scene, with Indian restaurants and chefs experimenting with fusion dishes that blend Indian and Western flavours. For example, Avani, a boutique winery founded by Indian immigrants in Mornington Peninsula, hosts wine-pairing events showcasing Indian dishes, such as pairing a baked fish recipe from southern India with Pinot Gris, and a creamy black lentil dish with Pinot Noir.
Performing Arts
Indian performing arts, particularly classical dances like Kathak and Bharatnatyam, are gaining popularity in Australia. Young Indian Australians, such as Divya Saxena, are striving to make these dance forms more mainstream and break stereotypes surrounding the South Asian community. Indian music and dance schools in major cities also contribute to the preservation and promotion of Indian cultural heritage in Australia.
Indian Australians have not only brought their language, religion, cuisine, and performing arts to Australia but have also excelled in various sectors, including politics, business, technology, and education. They have enriched the cultural fabric of Australia and continue to play a vital role in shaping the country's future.
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Indian immigration history: from the 1800s to today
Indian immigration to Australia began early in the history of the Australian colony. The first Indians arrived in Australia with the British settlers who had been living in India. These included seamen, marines, their families, government officials, and convicts.
In the early 19th century, a small number of Indians also arrived in Australia as convicts transported by the British colonial government in India. Others arrived as labourers with British subjects who had previously resided in India. In the late 19th century, more Indians came seeking work, mostly as hawkers and agricultural labourers. They were welcomed because India was a British colony.
From the 1860s to 1900, small groups of cameleers, commonly referred to as "Afghans" or "Ghans", were shipped in and out of Australia at three-year intervals. They serviced South Australia's inland pastoral industry by carting goods and transporting wool bales by camel trains. The majority of these cameleers, including Indian cameleers, were Muslims, with a sizeable minority of Sikhs from the Punjab region. They set up camel-breeding stations and rest houses, known as caravanserais, throughout inland Australia, creating a permanent link between the coastal cities and the remote cattle and sheep grazing stations until about the 1930s, when they were largely replaced by automobiles.
By 1901, the India-born population of Victoria was almost 1,800. However, the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, one of the first laws passed by the new Australian parliament, restricted non-European immigration, including Indians, into Australia. This law was the centrepiece of the White Australia Policy, which aimed to restrict immigration from Asia due to fears of being "swamped" by "unwanted" Asians. As a result of this policy, the number of Indians in Australia decreased. The 1911 census recorded only 3,698 'Indians', and in 1921, there were only about 2,000 Indians in Australia.
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 this number increased significantly after the end of the White Australia Policy in 1966. In the early 1980s, employment opportunities in Victoria attracted growing numbers of immigrants with technical and computer skills.
In the 21st century, India became the largest source of skilled migrants to Australia. According to the 2011 Australian census, 390,894 people of Indian origin lived in the country. The India-born community in Australia is now culturally diverse, with various religious and linguistic backgrounds.
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Indian immigration laws: past and present
Indian immigration to Australia began early in the history of the Australian colony. Indian cameleers, for instance, were shipped in and out of Australia from the 1860s to 1900 to service South Australia's inland pastoral industry. Indian immigration laws in Australia have historically been restrictive, with policies like the White Australia Policy aiming to curtail the migration of non-white people from countries like India.
In 1901, the Immigration Restriction Act was introduced by the Australian government, severely limiting the entry of non-white migrants from Asia. This was one of the first laws passed by the new Australian parliament, and it was underpinned by a desire to protect "white" jobs and prevent a perceived swarming of non-white immigrants into the country. The Act was part of the White Australia Policy, which remained in place until 1973. As a result of these policies, only around 2,000 Indians lived in Australia by 1921, and very few Indians were able to enter the country unless they were merchants or students.
Following World War II, Australia's immigration restrictions began to relax, and the number of Indian migrants slowly increased. This was partly due to a growing demand for English-educated, technologically skilled workers who could contribute to Australia's globalising economy. After India gained independence from Britain in 1947, an increasing number of Indian-born Anglo-Celtic colonials and Anglo-Indians immigrated to Australia. By 1954, over 3,000 Victorians were of Indian birth, and this number rose significantly after the White Australia Policy ended in 1973.
In the 21st century, India became the largest source of skilled migrants to Australia. The Indian migrant population in Australia today is culturally diverse, with various religions, languages, and socioeconomic backgrounds represented.
In terms of Indian immigration laws within India, the country has historically struggled with illegal immigration, particularly from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, and illegal immigrants are not considered refugees under Indian law. However, India has recognised immigrants from Tibet and Sri Lanka as refugees, and in 2019, amended the Citizenship Act to allow migrants from minority communities fleeing religious persecution in neighbouring countries to be eligible for Indian citizenship. Other recent changes to Indian immigration law include the expansion of the e-visa program and the introduction of a permanent residence status scheme. Additionally, India has implemented measures to regulate the entry, movement, and presence of foreigners within the country, such as the B visa and E visa programs.
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Indian Australians' economic impact: skilled migrants
Indian immigration to Australia began early in the history of the Australian colony. Indian-born Australians have contributed significantly to the country's economy, particularly in the 21st century, when India became the largest source of skilled migrants to Australia.
In the early 19th century, a small number of Indians arrived in Australia as convicts transported by the British colonial government in India. Others came as labourers with British subjects who had been living in India. In the late 19th century, more Indians came seeking work, mostly as hawkers and agricultural labourers. They were welcomed because India was a British colony.
From federation in 1901 until the 1960s, immigration of non-Europeans, including Indians, into Australia was restricted due to the enactment of the White Australia Policy. This policy aimed to restrict immigration from Asia, where the population was vastly greater and the standard of living was lower. As a result, the number of Indians in Australia decreased, with only approximately 2,000 Indian-born people in the country in 1921.
Following World War II, Australia's immigration restrictions were gradually lifted, and the number of Indian migrants began to rise. This relaxation was partly in response to the increasing demand for English-educated, technologically skilled white-collar workers who could contribute to the country's rapidly globalizing economy. In the 1950s and 1960s, Indian-born professionals such as doctors, teachers, and engineers began to arrive in regional Victoria. The India-born community in Victoria increased significantly after the end of the White Australia Policy in 1973, with around 12,000 India-born residents in the late 1970s.
In the 21st century, India became the largest source of skilled migrants to Australia. The migrants of the past decade have been younger, less educated, and more likely to be from the lower rungs of the Indian social ladder. They often come on temporary work or student visas and remain closely connected to their families back home. Despite this, they still contribute to Australia's economy, with international students being the largest temporary visa group in 2023-24. In 2019, Australia had the highest share of migrants in the OECD (after Luxembourg), with 30% of the population born overseas. Migration boosts employment for Australian-born people of all skill levels, ages, and genders, and it increases patenting in the country.
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Indian Australians' religious diversity: from Hinduism to Sikhism
Indian Australians have brought a rich religious diversity to the country, with Hinduism and Sikhism being two of the major faiths practised by this community.
Hinduism in Australia
Hindus form a significant proportion of the Indian Australian community. According to the 2016 census, 63% of the India-born community in Victoria practised Hinduism. The religious practices and beliefs of Australian Hindus mirror those of their counterparts in India. For instance, a majority of Hindus in Australia consider eating beef to be incompatible with their faith, and many believe in the purifying power of the Ganges River.
Sikhism in Australia
Sikhs have been in Australia since the late 1830s, with the first Sikhs arriving in the country to meet the demand for foreign labour. They were also known as "Afghans" or "Ghanes", and they set up camel-breeding stations and rest houses, creating a permanent link between coastal cities and remote grazing stations. The Sikh population in Australia grew further in the 1950s and 1960s as Sikh men started bringing their wives from Punjab and establishing Sikh households in the country. Today, Sikhism is the fastest-growing and fifth-largest religious group in Australia, with over 210,000 adherents as of 2021. The largest Sikh populations are found in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.
Religious Tolerance
Reflecting the value of religious tolerance in India, Indian Australians of different faiths generally respect each other's religions. For example, despite some Hindus in India disapproving of celebrating Christmas or the Islamic festival of Eid, many Hindus in Australia actively participate in Christmas celebrations.
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Frequently asked questions
The first wave of Indian migration to Australia took place between 1800 and 1860, with many Indians working as labourers, domestic workers, and camel drivers. Indians also worked in the gold fields and as hawkers and agricultural labourers.
The second wave of Indian migration to Australia occurred between 1860 and 1901. These migrants were primarily agricultural labourers who worked on sugar and banana plantations in southern Queensland.
The White Australia Policy, enacted in 1901, restricted Indian immigration until the early 1970s. During this period, only Anglo-Indians and people of Indian origin holding a third-country passport were allowed to immigrate.
Indians are the second-largest migrant group in Australia, and their numbers are continuing to rise. Indian immigration has been driven by the tech sector and the demand for skilled workers. Indian Australians are spread across the country, with concentrations in Melbourne and Sydney, and they contribute significantly to the economy and multiculturalism of Australia.
