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Chinese Australians

There were isolated contacts by Chinese in Australia from at least the early nineteenth century, and in the latter half of the century an increasing number of Chinese came to Australia, fleeing civil disorder, famine and floods in southern China. They were also attracted to the discovery of gold in Australia. At the time of the 1861 Colonial Census, the China-born comprised 38,258 or 3.4 per cent of Australia's population and was the second largest immigrant group after those from the British Isles.

Public animosity towards the Chinese influenced colonial governments to restrict their immigration. Following changes to Australian government policies, the immigration of Asians declined and by 1947 the China-born numbered 6,404. Further government policy changes in 1972 led to an increase in Asian immigration and by the 1976 Census the China-born numbered 19,971.

The implementation in 1976 of arrangements allowing Australian residents to sponsor family members was also instrumental in boosting Chinese immigration. Most of the China-born immigrants, however, came primarily from other countries such as Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

The active marketing of educational services in Asia by the Australian Government in the mid-1980s contributed to a rapid increase in the number of China-born private overseas students coming to Australia. In 1983 there were 38 China-born overseas students and by 1990 this number had increased to 16,642.

The China-born population is one of the major communities in Australia and its population is concentrated in large cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It should be noted that a significant proportion of persons from some of the other overseas-born communities in Australia, for example Singaporeans and Malaysians, are also of Chinese origin.