An Australian American is a citizen of the United States who identifies with an Australian national background. This can include people of European, Asian, African or Pacific Islander backgrounds.

History

The story of the Australian American population almost follows the story of both British American

British American

British Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in the United Kingdom . The term is seldom used by people to refer to themselves and is used primarily as a demographic or historical research term...

s and Irish Americans, as Australia was a British political territory at the time when they first emigrated and most of the settlers were Irish. The first wave of emigration from Australia to the United States came in the 1850s California Gold Rush

California Gold Rush

The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...

 when mostly Irish migrants who had escaped the Great Irish Famine(This section came from comedy central) had previously worked on the Australian goldfields. In San Francisco, the "Sydney Ducks

Sydney Ducks

The Sydney Ducks was the name given to a gang of criminal immigrants from Australia in San Francisco, during the mid-19th century. Because many of these criminals came from the well-known British penal colonies in Australia, and were known to commit arson, they were blamed for an 1849 fire that...

" as they were known, were in violent conflict with nativist

Nativism (politics)

Nativism favors the interests of certain established inhabitants of an area or nation as compared to claims of newcomers or immigrants. It may also include the re-establishment or perpetuation of such individuals or their culture....

 locals. Transpacific immigration then dried up while the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

 waged. It picked up during the period of Reconstruction, but faltered again when Australia was hit by a depression in the late 1890s. Immigration to the United States peaked in the years following World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, due to America's increased economic activity, and the exodus of 15,000 Australian war brides who married US servicemen. From 1971 to 1990, more than 86,400 Australians and New Zealanders immigrated to the United States.

Demographics

At the 2000 U.S. Census, 60,965 Australian born people were enumerated in the United States, of which 15,315 were citizens. Around 40% of Australian Americans had entered the United States before 1980. Australians are predominantly white, but many Australians are descended from other races and ethnic groups. Some white Australians may have Australian Aborigine ancestry indigenous to the continent, and many other European and later Asian immigrants (i.e. Chinese, Southeast Asians, Indians

Demographics of India

The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...

 and Middle Easterners to name a few) settled in the country since the end of World War II.

Business

Name	Born – Died	Notable for	Connection with Australia	Connection with America
Jacques Nasser Jacques Nasser Jacques Nasser is a leading global business executive who currently serves as Chairman of the Board of BHP Billiton. After serving as a Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since 2006, Mr. Nasser was appointed Chairman of both companies effective 31 March 2010...	1947–	former CEO of Ford Motors	born in Lebanon but raised in Australia	lived in US as CEO of major US company
Rupert Murdoch Rupert Murdoch Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....	1931–	CEO of News Corporation News Corporation News Corporation or News Corp. is an American multinational media conglomerate. It is the world's second-largest media conglomerate as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009, although the BBC remains the world's largest broadcaster...	born in Australia	became a naturalized US citizen in 1985

Public Service

Name	Born – Died	Notable for	Connection with Australia	Connection with America
Richard W. Fisher Richard W. Fisher Richard W. Fisher is currently the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, having assumed that post in April, 2005.-Career:...	1949–	Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President	Australian-American father	US citizen at birth
John Henderson John Henderson (Australian-American blind activist) John B. Henderson, Esq. is an attorney, business executive, sailor and member of the Miami Lighthouse Board. He was an American naval officer and Secretary of Defense operative during the Truman presidency....		blind activist	born in Australia	came to US with parents as a child and settled there
Martin Indyk Martin Indyk Martin Sean Indyk is Vice President and Director for Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. Indyk served as United States ambassador to Israel and Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs during the Clinton Administration. He is known as the framer of the U.S...	1951–	former US Ambassador to Israel	British born, Australian raised	US Government roles
James Wolfensohn James Wolfensohn Sir James David Wolfensohn AO KBE FKC was the ninth president of the World Bank Group.-Early life:James Wolfensohn was born in Sydney, Australia, on 1 December 1933...	1933–	former president of the World Bank World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...	born in Australia	became naturalized US citizen in 1980

Politics

Name	Born – Died	Notable for	Connection with Australia	Connection with America
Harry Bridges Harry Bridges Harry Bridges was an Australian-American union leader, in the International Longshore and Warehouse Union , a longshore and warehouse workers' union on the West Coast, Hawaii and Alaska which he helped form and led for over 40 years...	1901–1990	International Longshore and Warehouse Union International Longshore and Warehouse Union The International Longshore and Warehouse Union is a labor union which primarily represents dock workers on the West Coast of the United States, Hawaii and Alaska, and in British Columbia, Canada. It also represents hotel workers in Hawaii, cannery workers in Alaska, warehouse workers throughout...  leader	born in Australia	became naturalized US citizen in 1945

Writers

Name	Born – Died	Notable for	Connection with Australia	Connection with America
Jill Ker Conway Jill Ker Conway Jill Ker Conway is an Australian-American author. Well known for her autobiographies, in particular her first memoir, The Road from Coorain. She was also Smith College's first woman president, from 1975–1985, and now serves as a Visiting Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology...	1934–	writer	born Australia	works in US
Sumner Locke Elliott Sumner Locke Elliott Sumner Locke Elliott was an Australian novelist.-Biography:Elliott was born in Sydney to the writer Helena Sumner Locke and the journalist Henry Logan Elliott. His mother died of eclampsia one day after his birth...	1917–1991	writer of Careful, he might hear you	born in Australia	moved to US in 1948 and became naturalized US citizen in 1955

Scientists

Name	Born – Died	Notable for	Connection with Australia	Connection with America
Paul D. Scully-Power Paul D. Scully-Power Paul Desmond Scully-Power AM is an American oceanographer. While a civilian employee of the United States Naval Undersea Warfare Center, he flew aboard NASA Space Shuttle mission STS-41-G as a Payload Specialist. He was the first Australian-born person to journey into space.-Personal :Scully-Power...	1944–	oceanographer and astronaut	born in Australia	became naturalized US citizen in 1982
Terence James Elkins Terence James Elkins Terence James Elkins is an Australian-born American physicist. In 1960, he participated in an expedition from Mawson Station which conducted the first geological surveys of the Napier Mountains in Antarctica. The highest of this group of mountains, Mount Elkins, was subsequently named after him...	1936–	physicist Physicist A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole... , 1st ascent of Mount Elkins Mount Elkins Mount Elkins, also known as Jökelen is a dark, steep-sided mountain with three major peaks, the highest 2,300 metres above sea level. This peak is located in the Napier Mountains, in Enderby Land. Enderby Land is part of the Australian Antarctic Territory, in East Antarctica... , 1979 Harold Brown Award Harold Brown Award The Harold Brown Award is the highest award given by the United States Air Force to a scientist or engineer who applies scientific research to solve a problem critical to the needs of the Air Force.-History and purpose of the Harold Brown Award:...  recipient	born in Australia	emigrated to US in 1963, became naturalized US citizen in 1971
Philip K. Chapman	born 5 March 1935	Astronaut Astronaut An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....	Born in Australia	|emigrated to the US
Andy Thomas Andy Thomas Andrew "Andy" Sydney Withiel Thomas is an Australian-born American aerospace engineer and a NASA astronaut. He became a U.S. citizen in December 1986, hoping to gain entry to NASA's astronaut program...	18 December 1951	Astronaut Astronaut An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....	Born in Australia	|emigrated to the US, US citizen in 1986

Artists

Name	Born – Died	Notable for	Connection with Australia	Connection with America
Pat Oliphant Pat Oliphant Patrick Bruce "Pat" Oliphant is the most widely syndicated political cartoonist in the world, described by the New York Times as "the most influential cartoonist now working"...	1935–	New York Times cartoonist	born in Australia	emigrated to US in 1964

Sport

Name	Born – Died	Notable for	Connection with Australia	Connection with America
Darren Bennett Darren Bennett (footballer) Darren Bennett is a former Australian rules football player and American football punter in the National Football League.As an Australian rules footballer, he played 12 seasons for two clubs...	1965–	Australian rules and American football	born, played in AFL Australian Football League The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...	played in NFL National Football League The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Taj Burrow Taj Burrow Taj Burrow is an Australian professional surfer who is currently competing in this 14th year on the ASP World Tour.-Career:...	1978–	surfing	born in Australia	parents are US citizens
Jamie Dundee	1971–	professional wrestling	born in Australia	moved to US aged 3
Taylor Dent Taylor Dent Taylor Phillip Dent is a retired professional tennis player from the United States.-Early career and back injury:He won 4 ATP singles titles during his career: Newport , Bangkok , Memphis , and Moscow , and reached the finals of three other events on tour...	1981–	tennis	father is Australian	born in US
Kyrie Irving Kyrie Irving Kyrie Andrew Irving is an Australian-American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association . He starred as point guard for Duke University as a freshman before being selected as the number one pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers...	1992–	basketball	born in Australia	parents are US citizens
Robert Machado Rob Machado Robert Edward Machado is an American professional surfer from Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a community in Encinitas , California....	1973–	surfing	born in Sydney	grew up and lives in California

Music

Name	Born – Died	Notable for	Connection with Australia	Connection with America
Flea Flea (musician) Michael Peter Balzary , better known by his stage name Flea, is an Australian-American musician and occasional actor. He is best known as the bassist, co-founding member, and one of the composers of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers...	1962–	bassist for Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...	born in Australia	lived US from age 5
John Butler John Butler (musician) John Charles Wiltshire-Butler or John Charles Butler is an Australian musician, songwriter, record label owner and producer...	1962–	lead singer for the John Butler Trio John Butler Trio The John Butler Trio are an eclectic roots and jam band from Australia led by guitarist and vocalist John Butler. They formed in Fremantle in 1998 with Jason McGann on drums and Gavin Shoesmith on bass guitar...	family moved to Australia at age 11	born in US; mother is US citizen
MC Lars MC Lars Andrew Robert MacFarlane Nielsen is an American rapper, known by his stage name MC Lars. He is the self-proclaimed originator of "post-punk laptop rap". He was one of the first underground rappers to sample and reference post-punk and emo bands...	1982–	rapper	father Australian	born in US
Mark Stoermer Mark Stoermer Mark Stoermer is an American musician, best known for being the bassist for alternative rock band The Killers, in 2011 he released his debut solo album Another Life.-Personal life:...	1977–	bassist for The Killers	father is Australian	born in US

Actors/Actresses

Name	Born – Died	Notable for	Connection with Australia	Connection with America
Jacinda Barrett Jacinda Barrett Jacinda Barrett is an Australian American model turned actress. She first became known to audiences as a cast member on The Real World: London before appearing in films such as Ladder 49, The Namesake, The Human Stain, and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.-Early life and career:Born in Brisbane,...	1972–	actress	born in Australia	moved to US in the 1990s; married to US citizen Gabriel Macht Gabriel Macht Gabriel S. Macht is an American actor. Macht is known for playing The Spirit in the film of the same name, and lately for his role as Harvey Specter on the USA Network series Suits.-Personal life:...
Rod Taylor	1930–	actor	born in Australia	moved to the US in 1951
Leon Errol Leon Errol Leon Errol , was an Australian-born American comedian and actor, popular in the first half of the 20th century.-Biography:...	1881–1951	vaudeville	born in Australia	worked and died in US
Melissa George Melissa George Melissa Suzanne George is an Australian film and television actress who has worked in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Melissa is perhaps best known for her role as Angel Parrish on the Australian soap opera Home and Away...	1976–	actress	born in Australia	moved to US in the 1990s; became naturalised US citizen in 2008
Mel Gibson Mel Gibson Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...	1956–	actor and director	paternal grandmother was Australian and moved to Australia when he was 12 years old	born US and holds dual citizenship in US and the Republic of Ireland; Australian resident
Anthony LaPaglia Anthony LaPaglia Anthony M. LaPaglia is an Australian actor. He is known for his role as FBI agent Jack Malone on the American TV series Without a Trace, for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama...	1959–	Without a Trace Without a Trace Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:... actor	born in Australia	lives and works in US
George Lazenby George Lazenby George Robert Lazenby is an Australian actor and former model, best known for portraying James Bond in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.-Early life:...	1939–	former Bond	born in Australia	lived in US and owned real estate there
Keir O'Donnell Keir O'Donnell Keir O'Donnell is an Australian actor best known for his roles in the comedy films Wedding Crashers and Paul Blart: Mall Cop...	1978–	actor	born in Australia	lives and works in US
Nathalia Ramos Nathalia Ramos Nathalia Ramos is a Spanish-American actress and singer. She is known for playing Yasmin in the 2007 film Bratz: The Movie and Nina Martin on House of Anubis.- Acting career :...	1992–	actress	born in Spain, mother is Australian	lives and works in US
Helen Reddy Helen Reddy Helen Reddy , often referred to as "The Queen of 70s Pop", is an Australian-American singer and actress. In the 1970s, she enjoyed international success, especially in the United States, where she placed fifteen singles in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Six of those 15 songs made the Top 10...	1941–	actress, singer	born in Australia	naturalized US citizen
Ann Richards Ann Richards (actress) Ann Richards was an Australian actress, who achieved notability in Australian films as Shirley Ann Richards before moving to the United States where she continued her career as a film actress, mainly as an MGM starlet....	1917–2006	actress	born in Australia	moved to US in 1942; father was US citizen
Tristan Rogers Tristan Rogers Tristan Rogers is an Australian–American actor. He is best known for playing Robert Scorpio on the ABC soap opera General Hospital...	1946–	General Hospital General Hospital General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns.... actor	born in Australia	naturalized US citizen
Portia de Rossi Portia de Rossi Portia Lee James DeGeneres , known professionally as Portia de Rossi , is an Australian-American actress, best known for her roles as lawyer Nelle Porter on the television series Ally McBeal and Lindsay Bluth Fünke on the sitcom Arrested Development...	1973–	actress	born in Australia	moved to US in the 1990s; married Ellen DeGeneres Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....  on 16 August 2008.
Kristen Stewart Kristen Stewart Kristen Jaymes Stewart is an American actress. She is best known for playing Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga. She has also starred in films including Panic Room , Zathura , In the Land of Women , The Messengers , Adventureland and The Runaways .- Early life :Stewart was born and raised in Los...	1990–	actress	mother is Australian	born in US
Nicole Kidman Nicole Kidman Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...	1967–	actress	both parents are Australians; raised in Australia	born in US with dual citizenship
Heath Ledger Heath Ledger Heath Andrew Ledger was an Australian television and film actor. After performing roles in Australian television and film during the 1990s, Ledger moved to the United States in 1998 to develop his film career...	1979–2008	actor	born in Australia	died in US
Mia Farrow Mia Farrow Mia Farrow is an American actress, singer, humanitarian, and fashion model.Farrow first gained wide acclaim for her role as Allison Mackenzie in the soap opera Peyton Place, and for her subsequent short-lived marriage to Frank Sinatra...	1945 –	actress	father is Australian	born in US with dual citizenship
Sean Brosnan Seán Brosnan Seán Brosnan was an Irish barrister and Fianna Fáil politician from County Cork. He served for 10 years in the Oireachtas, as a Teachta Dála and as a Senator....	1983 –	actor	mother was Australian	US citizenship

Other

Bindi Irwin

Bindi Irwin

Bindi Sue Irwin is the daughter of The Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin. Bindi is a child celebrity who has tried her hand at acting, singing, songwriting, dancing, and rapping...

>

Name	Born – Died	Notable for	Connection with Australia	Connection with America
1996–	child TV star	father is Australian Steve Irwin Steve Irwin Stephen Robert "Steve" Irwin , nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", was an Australian television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist. Irwin achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series which he co-hosted...	mother is from Oregon
Soledad O'Brien Soledad O'Brien María de la Soledad Teresa O'Brien is an American Broadcast journalist. She is currently the host of the "In America" documentary unit on CNN, and is best known for anchoring the CNN marquee morning newscast American Morning from July 2003 to April 2007, with Miles O'Brien...	1966–	television journalist for CNN	father is Australian	born in US
Brianna Keilar Brianna Keilar Brianna Keilar is a White House correspondent for CNN in the Washington, D.C. bureau. She previously worked as a general assignment correspondent for CNN in Washington...	1980–	television journalist for CNN	born in Australia	grew up in Orange County, California Orange County, California Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
Marsha Waggoner Marsha Waggoner Marsha Waggoner is an American professional poker player who lives in Los Angeles, California.Waggoner has finished in the money at 20 World Series of Poker events as of 2010...	1940–	champion poker Poker Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...  player	born in Australia	lived in US since 1977
Christopher Wilder Christopher Wilder Christopher Bernard Wilder was a serial killer who abducted and raped at least ten women and killed at least eight of them during a spree across the United States in early 1984...	1945–1984	serial killer	born in Australia	emigrated to US in 1969; father is US citizen