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43 Years after the arrival of the First Fleet and the beginning of British colonization in Australia, the first assisted migration begins with workers from Britain encouraged to apply. Other immigrants follow that decade, including German Lutherans leaving their homeland in search of religious freedom and better economic opportunities.
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Many Chinese miners take advantage of Australia's Gold Rush, but it causes tensions that come to a head in an 1860 riot. 3,000 European miners drive the Chinese off the Burlington Goldfield in New South Wales.
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Tensions continue over Chinese workers and in 1888 the Premiers of all the pre-Federation colonies (except Tasmania) agree to further restrict Chinese immigrants.
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Tensions continue over Chinese workers and in 1888 the Premiers of all the Pre - Federation colonies (except Tasmania) agree to further restrict Chinese immigrants.
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Among the first laws passed by the Federal Government in the new Commonwealth of Australia is the Immigration Restriction Act 1901. It introduces a dictation test to prevent 'non-whites' from entering Australia as immigrants. The laws create the legal foundation of the White Australia Policy
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During the war years and the Great Depression, hundreds of thousands of British settlers are given assistance to come to Australia, and German Jews fleeing persecution are also admitted, but immigrants considered 'aliens' are required to register with the authorities and in some cases classed as 'enemy aliens' and interned in camps.
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Australia embarks on an ambitious 'populate or perish' program to encourage immigration after the war. British migration is especially encouraged in the years that follow.