White Australian
Encyclopedia
White Australian or Caucasian Australian is an umbrella term
used to describe a very broad ethnic group
in Australia
. It can refer to white people
born in Australia, usually of Northern European ancestry, but often includes non-European Caucasian
s, in addition to some other ethnic groups.
The Australian Census of 2006, when enquiring about ethnicity, did not offer "White Australian" as a standard choice. The subjective
self-description most commonly used was "Australian
" (37.13%). However, this is ambiguous and may include non-white people who describe themselves in terms of their Australian citizenship, such as indigenous Australians. The largest groups of European Australians identified were English Australians (31.65%), Irish Australians (9.08%), Scottish Australians (7.56%), Italian Australians
(4.29%), German Australians (4.09%) and Greek Australians (1.84%). People of predominantly non-European descent, who are sometimes identified as "White Australian", included Lebanese Australians (0.92%) and Turkish Australians (0.3%).
A majority of white Australians are descended from immigrants from Great Britain
or Ireland
. In previous historical periods, "White Australian" was regarded as synonymous with Anglo-Celtic Australian
. However, this technically excluded European Australians of non-British
or Irish
ancestry. There are Australians who do not wish to be referred to as Anglo or Celtic and would rather be referred to as simply white, like countries like America do to their caucasian population. Although many descended from Britain or Ireland, many feel little connection to their ancestry countries and feel they have the right to be referred to simply white like Americans, rather than British/Irish Australian.
White Australians as a proportion of the population increased during the 20th century, as a result of the "White Australia Policy
", which was intended to restrict "non-white" immigration. From 1947, the "post-war
migration boom", meant Australia's population more than doubled, spurred by large-scale European migration. The incremental abolition of the White Australia Policy, culminating in the 1973 Immigration Act, resulted in a significant increase in immigration from Asia
n countries.
Umbrella term
An umbrella term is a word that provides a superset or grouping of concepts that all fall under a single common category. Umbrella term is also called a hypernym. For example, cryptology is an umbrella term that encompasses cryptography and cryptanalysis, among other fields...
used to describe a very broad ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
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...
. It can refer to white people
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
born in Australia, usually of Northern European ancestry, but often includes non-European Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
s, in addition to some other ethnic groups.
The Australian Census of 2006, when enquiring about ethnicity, did not offer "White Australian" as a standard choice. The subjective
Subjectivity
Subjectivity refers to the subject and his or her perspective, feelings, beliefs, and desires. In philosophy, the term is usually contrasted with objectivity.-Qualia:...
self-description most commonly used was "Australian
Australian people
Australian people, or simply Australians, are the citizens of Australia. Australia is a multi-ethnic nation, and therefore the term "Australian" is not a racial identifier. Aside from the Indigenous Australian population, nearly all Australians or their ancestors immigrated within the past 230 years...
" (37.13%). However, this is ambiguous and may include non-white people who describe themselves in terms of their Australian citizenship, such as indigenous Australians. The largest groups of European Australians identified were English Australians (31.65%), Irish Australians (9.08%), Scottish Australians (7.56%), Italian Australians
Italian Australians
-Characteristics :The 2006 Census counted 199,124 persons who were born in Italy. However, 852,417 persons identified themselves as having Italian ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry . Italian is the fifth most identified ancestry in Australia behind 'Australian',...
(4.29%), German Australians (4.09%) and Greek Australians (1.84%). People of predominantly non-European descent, who are sometimes identified as "White Australian", included Lebanese Australians (0.92%) and Turkish Australians (0.3%).
A majority of white Australians are descended from immigrants from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
or Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In previous historical periods, "White Australian" was regarded as synonymous with Anglo-Celtic Australian
Anglo-Celtic Australian
Anglo-Celtic Australian are citizens of Australia with British and/or Irish ancestral origins.-Demography:From the beginning of the colonial era until the mid-20th century, the vast majority of settlers were British or Irish...
. However, this technically excluded European Australians of non-British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
or Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry. There are Australians who do not wish to be referred to as Anglo or Celtic and would rather be referred to as simply white, like countries like America do to their caucasian population. Although many descended from Britain or Ireland, many feel little connection to their ancestry countries and feel they have the right to be referred to simply white like Americans, rather than British/Irish Australian.
White Australians as a proportion of the population increased during the 20th century, as a result of the "White Australia Policy
White Australia policy
The White Australia policy comprises various historical policies that intentionally restricted "non-white" immigration to Australia. From origins at Federation in 1901, the polices were progressively dismantled between 1949-1973....
", which was intended to restrict "non-white" immigration. From 1947, the "post-war
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...
migration boom", meant Australia's population more than doubled, spurred by large-scale European migration. The incremental abolition of the White Australia Policy, culminating in the 1973 Immigration Act, resulted in a significant increase in immigration from Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n countries.