Hungarian Australian
Encyclopedia
Most Hungarian immigrants to Australia came after World War II
and after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. The Hungarian descent in Australia
, mostly live in State capital cities. Responses to the last 2006 ABS conducted national census questionnaires could reflect the true numbers of Hungarian Australians only if one takes into account not just of the ones born in Hungary. In addition to that, the ethnic Hungarian origin people born outside Hungary who officially and specifically identified themselves of Hungarian ancestry would make up the total of 67,616 Hungarian Australian persons, residents of Australia as per ABS tabulation under “Hungarian Ancestry”(Refer to Hungarian history as guide for clarification). The breakdown
according to State and Territory was: NSW 23,577; VIC 21,727; QLD 9795; SA 5,427; WA 4,230;
TAS 877; ACT 1,652; NT 331. Of the 67,616 total 20,166 or 29.82% were born in Hungary, 31,103 or
46% were aged 65 and over, 40,570 or 60% had tertiary or trade qualifications.
In the same 2006 Census, among Hungarian-born persons, the religious breakdown was as follows: 72.9% declared Christianity, 11.8% declared no religion or atheism, 7.4% declared Judaism, 0.6% declared other religions and 6.6% did not answer the question.
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats
The historic upheavals that gave rise to refugee-waves from Hungary which subsequently formed the basis of Hungarian migration into Australia, were:
Although the main stream was always from Hungary, whenever possible, Hungarians from the adjoining successor state countries ( post-Trianon 1920 newly independent States) also migrated to Australia that was always regarded as a most promising destination where prosperity and freedoms were enjoyed by all, in an advanced economy, European outlook lifestyle.
According to records, the very first Hungarian to arrive in Australia was the merchant Isaac Friedman in 1833. He left London on his way to Sydney with his wife and daughter, passengers on the ship “ Enchanteress ”. His first step on Australian soil was during stopover in Hobart which city impressed them. After about 5 years, the family returned to and settled in Hobart.
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...
and after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. The Hungarian descent in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, mostly live in State capital cities. Responses to the last 2006 ABS conducted national census questionnaires could reflect the true numbers of Hungarian Australians only if one takes into account not just of the ones born in Hungary. In addition to that, the ethnic Hungarian origin people born outside Hungary who officially and specifically identified themselves of Hungarian ancestry would make up the total of 67,616 Hungarian Australian persons, residents of Australia as per ABS tabulation under “Hungarian Ancestry”(Refer to Hungarian history as guide for clarification). The breakdown
according to State and Territory was: NSW 23,577; VIC 21,727; QLD 9795; SA 5,427; WA 4,230;
TAS 877; ACT 1,652; NT 331. Of the 67,616 total 20,166 or 29.82% were born in Hungary, 31,103 or
46% were aged 65 and over, 40,570 or 60% had tertiary or trade qualifications.
In the same 2006 Census, among Hungarian-born persons, the religious breakdown was as follows: 72.9% declared Christianity, 11.8% declared no religion or atheism, 7.4% declared Judaism, 0.6% declared other religions and 6.6% did not answer the question.
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats
History
Generally, before and after the founding of the Australian federation, the history of Hungarian immigration in Australia has been an outcome of severe politico-economic crisis in Hungary which in turn devastated the country forcing the population to marginal existence. So, revolutions, wars and their consequence misery, created the mass refugee-waves to the outside world. However, the exception always existed at all times in the form of few individuals who’s high motivation to migrate was absolute independence, divorced even from any desire to nurture root culture, heritage, language and thus seek ethnic cohesion in a far away foreign land. They could have been typical Victorian era goldfields prospectors, unskilled “jack of all trades-master of none” adventurers, and, at the other end of the spectrum, the expert tradesman, the highly educated language savvy expert professional or the astute merchant who saw conditions and a climate ready for the high rewards to be had for the hard work invested in their fast developing new homeland.The historic upheavals that gave rise to refugee-waves from Hungary which subsequently formed the basis of Hungarian migration into Australia, were:
- The Hungarian War of Independence / Revolution against the Austrian Empire (1848-49). Loss of the war and the after effects like retribution & severe repression.
- A rural in Hungary in the 1890s and early 1900s saw over 1.5 million Hungarians emigrate. While the overwhelming majority went to the United States of America, several hundred came to Australia.
- The collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire upon loss of World War 1 (1918) and the Treaty of Versailles-Trianon (1920) reduced the size of Hungary by a 72% loss in territory. This created 6.6 million Hungarians living not in Hungary but in Romania, Czechoslovakia, and in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes as ethnic minority.
- An ongoing repression since 1920 against Hungarian ethnic minorities in some countries Hungary adjoins, gave rise to migration from Serbia & Croatia (former Yugoslavia), Romania, Slovakia (part of former Czechoslovakia) to Australia. Although this can not be described as wave, it can be grouped and categorized as a consistent and steady stream of Hungarian migration by families and individuals from those sources. Also, until the outbreak of World War II, Australia offered a safe haven and accepted some 6,475 new settlers mainly of Central European Jewry fleeing Nazi Germany’s legalized unbearable discrimination and manifest threats. The number of Hungarians among them is estimated to be about 800 persons.
- World War II, devastation, economic collapse and gradual takeover of a communist dictatorship in Hungary. Officially termed as Displaced Persons, Australia welcomed about 15,000 refugees recruited from International Refugee Organisation's (IRO)refugee camps mainly in Austria.
- The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 against Soviet occupation and communist tyranny, was crushed by same Soviet (U.S.S.R.) armies reoccupying the country. Once more Australia welcomed about 14,500 migrant-newsletters from an exodus of 200,000 Hungarians from their own country.
Although the main stream was always from Hungary, whenever possible, Hungarians from the adjoining successor state countries ( post-Trianon 1920 newly independent States) also migrated to Australia that was always regarded as a most promising destination where prosperity and freedoms were enjoyed by all, in an advanced economy, European outlook lifestyle.
According to records, the very first Hungarian to arrive in Australia was the merchant Isaac Friedman in 1833. He left London on his way to Sydney with his wife and daughter, passengers on the ship “ Enchanteress ”. His first step on Australian soil was during stopover in Hobart which city impressed them. After about 5 years, the family returned to and settled in Hobart.
See also
- Hungarian people
- Hungarian diasporaHungarian diasporaHungarian diaspora is a term that encompasses the total ethnic Hungarian population located outside of current-day Hungary.There are two main groups of the diaspora...
- Hungarians in AustraliaHungarians in AustraliaThis is a list of notable Hungarian Australians and their descendants.*Peter Abeles - . Prominent businessman. Awarded Companion of the Order of Australia .*Attila Abonyi - . Soccer administrator and player for Melbourne Hungaria...
(list) - Australia–Hungary relations
Further reading
- Anthony, Karina (2006). The Political Representation of Ethnic and Racial Minorities. New South Wales Parliamentary Briefing Paper 3/06, NSW Parliamentary Library Research Service, Sydney, NSW. ISBN 0731317947
- Commonwealth Department of Immigration & Citizenship (2006), Community Information Summary.
- Józsa-Demian, Erika (2001), “Hungarians”, in James Jupp (ed.), The Australian People. An Encyclopedia of the Nation, Its People and Their Origins, Revised edition, Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press, Pages 421-425. ISBN 0521807891
- Kunz, Egon F. (1969), Blood And Gold, , F.W. Cheshire, Melbourne, Victoria. National Library of Australia Registry No: Aus 68-1211
- Kunz, Egon F. (1985), The , Australasian Educa Press, Blackburn, Victoria. ISBN 0867872055 National Library of Australia Bib ID 8499
- Kunz, E.F. (1988), “Hungarians”, in James Jupp (ed.) The Australian People. An Encyclopedia of the Nation, Its People and Their Origins, North Ryde, NSW, Angus and Robertson, Pages 536-541. ISBN 0207154279
- Migration Museum of South Australia (1995). From Many Places. The History and Cultural Traditions of South Australian People, Kent Town, South Australia, Wakefield Press, p.208. ISBN 1 86254 347 X
- Ürményházi, Attila (2006), The Hungarian Revolution-Uprising Budapest 1956, ISBN 0-646-45885-X, National Library of Australia: Record Id: 40312920
- Ürményházi, Attila (2010a), Hungarian Presence in Tasmania, National Library of Australia, Ref:LD10/201319 & Bib ID 4936363
- Ürményházi, Attila (2010b), Synopsis Biography Of Twenty Preeminent Hungarian Australians, National Library of Australia Ref: LD10/205022 & Bib ID 4975071
- Ürményházi, Attila (2011), Medley of 10 remarkable Hungarian migrant stories, National Library of Australia Ref: LD11/220317 & Bib. ID 5197377