Lexi Webster
Australia's population growth has been influenced by various factors, including historical events, immigration patterns, and urbanisation trends. The country's population growth has been predominantly shaped by its history as a British colony, with the majority of settlers and immigrants arriving from the British Isles between 1788 and the Second World War. The end of World War II brought a wave of immigration from across Europe, contributing to the country's population growth. Additionally, the abolition of the White Australia policy in 1973 led to a significant increase in immigration from Asia and other parts of the world, fostering a more multicultural Australia. The growth of cities, particularly in coastal locations and peri-metropolitan areas, has also played a role in the country's population distribution and expansion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of human habitation | 50,000 to 65,000 years ago |
| Population in 1788 | 300,000 to 1 million |
| Population in 1820 | 30,000 |
| Population in 1836 | 55,000 convicts in New South Wales and 60,000 in Van Diemen's Land |
| Population in 1948 | 96% of New South Wales' Indigenous population was employed |
| Population in 1996 | 517,000 |
| Population in 2016 | 798,000 |
| Population in 2021 | 25,740,000 |
| Population in 2022 | 26,374,000 |
| Population in 2051 | 1.89 million (projected) |
| Population growth in 2022-23 | 634,000 people or 2.4% |
| Population growth causes | Net Overseas Migration of +528,000, natural increase (births minus deaths) |
| Fast-growing areas | City of Perth, Upper Gascoyne, Peppermint Grove, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Wanneroo, Brisbane, Melbourne |
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What You'll Learn
High net overseas migration
The population of Australia has grown extremely fast due to several factors, one of which is high net overseas migration. Since the end of the White Australia policy in 1973, Australia has experienced a large wave of immigration from all over the world. Asia is currently the largest source of immigrants.
Historically, between 1788 and the Second World War, most settlers and immigrants came from the British Isles, with significant immigration from China and Germany during the 19th century. Following the Second World War, Australia received a large wave of immigration from across Europe, particularly Southern and Eastern Europe.
In the 1940s, 96% of New South Wales' Indigenous population was employed, marking an improvement in Indigenous lives through employment in the services and wartime industries. However, the Aboriginal population in Australia has been greatly reduced due to several factors, including disease, settler and inter-Indigenous killings, and government control.
Today, the Aboriginal population is experiencing strong population growth, projected to increase from 798,000 in 2016 to 1.89 million by 2051. This growth is particularly evident in urban-dominated regions, such as New South Wales and Queensland.
In recent years, inner-city areas of Australia have experienced booming population growth. For example, in 2022-2023, Western Australia's population grew by 3.2%, or nearly 90,000 people, with 90% of this growth occurring in Greater Perth. Brisbane also experienced significant growth, with an extra 8,181 people, or 3.7%, in the City of Wanneroo alone.
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Post-WWII immigration
The Australian government's decision to actively encourage immigration was driven by the notion of "populate or perish." Arthur Calwell, Australia's first Minister for Immigration, articulated this idea, stating that Australia needed to “greatly increase [its] numbers" to ensure the country's defence and development. The government set an ambitious target of a one per cent annual increase in population through immigration.
To achieve this goal, Australia implemented the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, also known as the 'Ten-Pound Pom' scheme. This scheme encouraged Britons to migrate to Australia, with over 400,000 registering by 1947. However, it soon became apparent that even with assisted passage, the target was challenging due to Britain's reduced shipping capacity after the war.
As a result, Australia expanded its immigration sources, welcoming migrants from southern and eastern Europe, as well as carefully selected temporary migrants from the Middle East and Asia. In 1957, the Liberal government further relaxed immigration restrictions, making non-European migrants eligible for citizenship after 15 years of residency.
By 1959, Australia's population reached 10 million, a significant increase from the 7 million recorded in 1945. This growth was fuelled not only by immigration but also by a postwar baby boom. The post-WWII immigration wave, which started with predominantly European migrants, laid the foundation for the contemporary wave of predominantly Asian immigration that continues to shape Australia's population growth today.
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Convict transportation
The establishment of a penal colony in New South Wales in 1788 marked the beginning of Australia's role as a prison for Britain's excess population during a period of rapid population growth, social and political instability, and economic downturns. The majority of convicts transported to Australia were convicted of petty crimes such as theft, and approximately one in seven convicts was female. Political prisoners who had not been convicted of any crime were also among those transported. Convicts were sentenced to work from sunrise to sunset, six days a week, contributing to the development of the young colony through their labour.
The end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 led to a rapid increase in convict transportation, with 55,000 convicts arriving in New South Wales and 60,000 in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) between 1821 and 1840. However, by 1830, the population of free settlers and those born in the colony outnumbered the convict population in New South Wales. In 1836, annual licences were introduced to control the booming pastoral industry, but high land costs and booming wool prices encouraged further unauthorised expansion.
Opposition to the convict system grew in the colonies during the 1830s, with protests intensifying in the following decade. An inquiry led by Molesworth found that the system of assigning convicts was iniquitous and recommended its abolition. Transportation to New South Wales ceased in 1840, but it continued in other colonies such as Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania, and commenced in Western Australia in 1850. The last convict ship arrived in Western Australia in 1868, marking the end of convict transportation to Australia.
Once their sentences were served, most convicts remained in Australia and joined the free settler population. They were allowed to own land, and some even rose to prominent positions in colonial government. However, convictism carried a social stigma, and for later generations, being of convict descent was a source of shame. Attitudes towards convict ancestry became more accepting in the 20th century, and today, many Australians celebrate finding a convict in their lineage.
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Aboriginal population growth
The Aboriginal population in Australia has a long and complex history, with evidence suggesting their presence on the continent for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. The Aboriginal people, along with Torres Strait Islander people, are the first peoples of Australia and are culturally and linguistically diverse, with unique beliefs, practices, and connections to their land.
The history of the Aboriginal population in eastern Australia has been marked by significant challenges and disruptions following European colonisation. Before the arrival of Europeans, the Aboriginal population in Australia was estimated to be between 300,000 and 750,000 people, with a dense population in the eastern regions, particularly in the River Murray valley. However, the colonisation process led to a sharp decline in the Aboriginal population due to introduced diseases, violent conflicts, and displacement.
Diseases such as smallpox, measles, influenza, and bronchitis, which had previously ravaged Europe and Asia, were new to the Aboriginal population, who had no resistance to them. This resulted in a rapid and devastating loss of lives, with over half of the indigenous population in the Sydney Basin dying from smallpox within a year of its introduction. Violent conflicts with colonists and the dispossession of their land further exacerbated the decline, with the traditional kinship systems and social structures being disrupted.
In the 1930s, the Indigenous population began to recover, and organisations were founded to advocate for their rights. Since then, there has been a growing movement towards reclaiming their cultural identity and promoting terms such as "First Nations Australians" to acknowledge their diversity. In the 2021 census, around 812,000 people identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, representing 3.2% of the total population, with a higher proportion in eastern Australia. This growth can be attributed to various factors, including higher fertility rates, migration, and changing self-identification.
The Aboriginal population in eastern Australia has experienced a complex history, from their deep-rooted presence on the continent to the devastating impacts of colonisation. While the population faced significant challenges, they have also shown resilience and a strong connection to their land, with ongoing efforts towards cultural reclamation and advocacy for their rights.
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Urbanisation
The expansion of these cities and towns was facilitated by several factors. One key factor was the use of convict labour. Between 1788 and 1792, convicts and their gaolers made up a majority of the population in these colonies. However, as free settlers began to arrive in larger numbers, the population of emancipated convicts, locally born children, and expired soldiers also grew, contributing to the urban population.
Another factor contributing to urbanisation in Eastern Australia was the development of pastoral industries, particularly sheep and cattle grazing. By the 1820s, squatters had established unauthorised cattle and sheep runs beyond the official limits of the colonies. This led to conflicts with Aboriginal tribes, such as the Pinjarra massacre in Western Australia. The spread of grazing lands and the introduction of mounted police and firearms increased the intensity of these conflicts, particularly in New South Wales and Queensland in the mid-19th century.
The growth of urban areas in Eastern Australia was also influenced by waves of immigration. Following World War II, Australia experienced a large wave of immigration from across Europe, particularly Southern and Eastern Europe. This period of multicultural immigration contributed to the growth of cities and towns in Eastern Australia as immigrants settled in urban areas. Additionally, the end of the White Australia policy in 1973 led to a wave of immigration from Asia, further contributing to the urban population.
In recent years, inner-city areas of Eastern Australia have continued to experience significant population growth. Cities like Perth, Melbourne, and Brisbane have seen high percentage growth rates, with Perth's inner city dominating with a 7.4% growth rate. This urbanisation trend is expected to continue, with projections showing that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in urban-dominated regions will more than double by 2051.
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Frequently asked questions
The population growth in Eastern Australia can be attributed to various factors, including high immigration, natural increase, and urbanisation. The country has experienced a large wave of immigration from across the world, with Asia being the largest source of immigrants. Additionally, the natural increase, or births minus deaths, contributes to population growth, although it now accounts for only 17% of the total population growth. Lastly, urbanisation has played a role in the fast population growth, with inner cities like Perth, Brisbane, and Melbourne dominating the growth percentages.
Immigration has been a significant factor in the population growth of Eastern Australia. Since the end of the White Australia policy in 1973, the country has pursued an official policy of multiculturalism, attracting immigrants from diverse backgrounds. The largest growth has been observed in the City of Brisbane, which is the only LGA with a population of over 1 million people.
In the early history of Eastern Australia, particularly between 1788 and 1792, convicts and their gaolers constituted the majority of the population. However, as free settlers from Britain arrived, the convict population was soon outnumbered. The transportation of convicts increased rapidly after the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815, with 55,000 convicts arriving in New South Wales and 60,000 in Van Diemen's Land between 1821 and 1840.
The Indigenous population in Eastern Australia has experienced fluctuations over the years. Initially, the Indigenous population was estimated to be between 300,000 and 1 million before the arrival of Europeans. However, due to introduced diseases, conflict with settlers, and inter-Indigenous killings, their numbers declined significantly. In recent years, the Aboriginal population has been projected to grow, increasing from 798,000 in 2016 to an expected 1.89 million by 2051.
