Lexi Webster
In the aftermath of World War II, Australia witnessed a significant influx of migrants, predominantly from Europe, as part of a large-scale immigration program. This wave of immigration, also known as the Populate or Perish campaign, aimed to increase Australia's population by 1% annually for defence and development purposes. Between 1947 and 1953, over 170,000 displaced persons, many from Eastern Europe, resettled in Australia, marking the first major post-war migration wave. The second wave, during the 1950s and 1960s, attracted those seeking employment and better living conditions from countries like Italy, Greece, Malta, Croatia, and Turkey. Overall, Australia's population grew by 2.7% per year between 1946 and 1960, with migration contributing to over a third of this growth, shaping the country's multicultural society.
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What You'll Learn
Migration from Britain and the Commonwealth
Post-World War II immigration to Australia was driven by the country's urgent need for a larger population for defence and development purposes. The first Minister for Immigration, Arthur Calwell, promoted mass immigration with the slogan "populate or perish".
In the aftermath of World War II, hundreds of thousands of displaced Europeans migrated to Australia, and over 1,000,000 Britons immigrated with financial assistance. The migration assistance scheme initially targeted citizens of Commonwealth countries, but it gradually extended to other countries such as the Netherlands and Italy. The qualifications were straightforward: migrants needed to be in good health and under the age of 45. There were no skill requirements, although under the White Australia policy, people of mixed-race backgrounds found it challenging to take advantage of the scheme.
The first major post-war wave of migration started with Displaced Persons (DPs) who had fled their countries of birth due to war, dislocation, and the redrawing of national borders. Between 1947 and 1953, over 170,000 DPs came to Australia, many from Eastern Europe, where they had suffered greatly during the war. The second wave of post-war immigration arrived in the 1950s and 1960s, consisting of those seeking employment and better living conditions. These included migrants from Italy, Greece, Malta, Croatia, and Turkey.
From 1946 to 1960, the Australian population grew by an average of 2.7% per year, with migration contributing to more than a third of this growth, adding 1.2 million people to Australia's population. By 1960, the total population had reached about 10.3 million.
In the decades after 1948, many passenger liners carried immigrants from post-war Europe to Australia, with the journey lasting about a month. The experience of migrating to Australia was often marked by mixed emotions, with excitement and anxiety about starting a new life in a different country.
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Migration from continental Europe
In the aftermath of World War II, Australia stepped up its immigration program with the slogan "populate or perish". Between 1947 and 1953, over 170,000 displaced persons, many from Eastern Europe, migrated to Australia. This was the first major post-war wave of migration, with people fleeing their countries of birth due to war, dislocation, and the redrawing of national borders. The migration schemes initially favoured people from Britain and other Commonwealth countries. However, over time, Australia accepted people from previously excluded countries, including Italy, Greece, and the Baltics.
The second wave of post-war immigration arrived in the 1950s and 1960s, consisting of those seeking employment and better living conditions. This wave included migrants from southern, eastern, and northern Europe, such as Italy, Greece, Malta, Croatia, and Turkey. The origins of 'New Australians' changed significantly, with British migrants making up only half of the intake.
During this period, migration contributed to more than a third of Australia's population growth, adding 1.2 million people and bringing the total population to about 10.3 million by 1960. Australia negotiated agreements with several countries, including formal migration agreements with the United Kingdom, Malta, the Netherlands, Italy, West Germany, Turkey, and Yugoslavia. There were also informal migration agreements with Austria, Greece, Spain, and Belgium.
The migration of Europeans to Australia after World War II was driven by various push and pull factors. Push factors included the devastation of their home countries during the war, as well as economic hardships and religious persecution. Pull factors included Australia's need for a larger population for defence and development, as well as the assisted passage migration schemes that made migration more accessible.
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Migration from southern, eastern and northern Europe
Post-war immigration to Australia refers to the predominantly European wave of immigration that occurred between 1945 and 1973. Hundreds of thousands of displaced Europeans migrated to Australia, with over 1,000,000 Britons immigrating with financial assistance. The migration assistance scheme initially targeted citizens of Commonwealth countries, but it was gradually extended to other countries, including those in Southern, Eastern, and Northern Europe.
Southern Europe
Southern Europeans migrated to Australia in large numbers after World War II. Between 1953 and late 1956, migrants from Southern Europe outnumbered British migrants, causing the Australian government to place restrictions on Southern Europeans sponsoring newcomers and to launch the "Bring Out a Briton" campaign. Despite these restrictions, Southern Europeans, particularly those from Italy, continued to migrate to Australia, with many finding employment in the booming manufacturing industry and government-assisted programmes, such as the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europeans, particularly refugees from the Red Army, also migrated to Australia after World War II. While the post-war immigration program initially gave preference to migrants from Great Britain, the reliance on British shipping proved insufficient to meet the target of a 1% annual increase in population. As a result, the Australian government turned to refugees from Eastern Europe sponsored by the International Refugee Organization (IRO), with the US providing necessary shipping.
Northern Europe
Northern European countries, such as the United Kingdom, also contributed to the wave of immigration to Australia after World War II. The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, established in 1945, encouraged Britons to migrate to Australia with free or assisted passages. Immigrants under this scheme became known as Ten Pound Poms. Financial assistance was a significant factor in attracting migrants from Northern Europe, with over 1,000,000 Britons taking advantage of these schemes.
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Migration from Asia
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, carefully selected temporary migrants from the Middle East and Asia made their way to Australia. This was a shift from the predominantly European immigration that Australia had experienced up to that point. The migration policies of the time, such as the White Australia policy, made it difficult for people from mixed-race backgrounds to take advantage of migration schemes.
The late 1970s saw substantial flows of migrants from Asia, and since the 1980s, Asia has been a more significant source of migrants than Europe. This shift reflects significant changes in Australia's immigration policies over the last half-century. The removal of the remaining elements of the White Australia policy in the 1970s was a critical moment in this evolution. With this change, Asians could compete on an equal footing for spots in the immigration program.
The entry of refugees from Indo-China marked the beginning of a continuous influx from the region. Over time, Australia's immigration policies evolved from assimilation to multiculturalism in the 1970s, encouraging immigrants to retain their unique cultures while integrating into Australian society. This shift contributed to the growing diversity and multiculturalism in Australia.
Today, Asian groups, particularly those from Indo-China, tend to cluster in specific areas, such as Sydney and other major cities. This clustering has contributed to the unique British-based but multicultural society that Australia is today.
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Refugees and asylum seekers
In July 1947, Australia signed an agreement with the United Nations' International Refugee Organization (IRO) to settle at least 12,000 displaced people annually from camps in Europe. Between 1947 and 1953, over 170,000 displaced persons, many from Eastern Europe, migrated to Australia under the Displaced Persons Program. This was the largest number of non-British migrants in Australian history over that period. The first shipload arrived in 1947 from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and they were soon dubbed the "beautiful Balts."
The selection of refugees for migration was based on their fitness for work, as well as medical and security checks. Initially, displaced persons with disabilities were deemed unfit for migration until World Refugee Year in 1959, which promoted the contributions they could make in a new country. The Australian government also had an agreement with the IRO to arrange transport, accommodation, and employment for 4,000 displaced persons.
Australia's intake of refugees has declined since the 1980s, from 20,000 annually to 12,000 in 2002. However, the country continues to accept refugees and asylum seekers through various streams, including the Humanitarian Stream, which includes offshore and onshore resettlement programs. Additionally, the Family Stream program, emphasised in the 1970s and 1980s, enables the reunion of families and provides for refugees or others in urgent need of resettlement.
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Frequently asked questions
People from a variety of countries migrated to Australia after World War II, including from Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Malta, West Germany, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Austria, Greece, Spain, Belgium, and Eastern Europe.
Between 1947 and 1953, over 170,000 displaced persons migrated to Australia, and over 1,000,000 Britons immigrated with financial assistance. In total, migration contributed to more than a third of Australia's population growth between 1946 and 1960, adding 1.2 million people to the country's population.
There were various reasons for migration to Australia after World War II. The Australian government had a policy of "'populate or perish," aiming to increase the country's population for defence and development purposes. Migration schemes were established to encourage Britons and other Europeans to migrate to Australia, offering financial assistance and assisted passages. Additionally, many people migrated to Australia to seek employment and better living conditions.
Migrants to Australia after World War II tended to settle in urban areas, with a concentration in cities like Sydney and in certain states, including New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. Italians and Greeks migrating to Australia during this period often settled in inner suburban areas of major cities.
