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Period: to
Australia's changing relationship with Asia
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Pre 1788
Asian explorers made irregular visits to the Australian coastline. Regular trading partners were not yet established. -
1778 - 1840's Settlement to gold rushes
Asian immigrants were used by Austalian colonies. They were used as a cheap labour force and found it very hard to be accepted by the White Europeans. -
Gold Rushes
The discovery of gold in Australia, led to a massive immigration, especially Chinese, to the new colonies as miners came to search of wealth.
There were riots against Chinese. -
The end of transportation
The end of transportation caused by a labour shortage in the colonies. Chinese workes began to arrive in greater number for work. -
Europeans attacked the Chinese camp
European miners armed with weapons attacked the Chinese camp at Buckland River in Victoria. -
Worst attack against Chinese
In 1861 the worst attack against the Chinese occured at Lambing Flat, NSW when 2000 diggers attacked, robbed and murdered Chinese Miners. -
Pre - Federation
74% of the people living in Australia were born here. The dominant culture grup saw itself as an outpost of Western culture. -
The defeat of China by Japan
The defeat of China by Japan did not ease Australia's fear of Asia, but compound it: now there was another Asian nation to fear. -
1901
Anyone intending to immigrate to Australia had to sit dictation test, which could be European language. The test was designed to keep out 'the yellow peril' this is, all non-Europeans. -
The Naturalisation Acts
The Naturalisation Acts of 1903 and 1920 prevented non-Europeans becoming Australian citizens. -
Post - World War One
After World War One (WWO), the Australian Government gave British land to settle on and farm. -
World War Two
The North seemed to be comfirmed when the Japanese began their puch to take over Asia in World War Two. Attacks on Darwin, Broome and Sydney led to widespread fear that an invasion was imminent. Asutralia was bombed several times by the Japanese. Eight thousand Australians died in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps. -
Post - World War Two
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1970 and 1980's
In the 1970's Mr Al Grassby as a Minister for Immigration promoted the idea of multicultural Australia. This became the formal policy for future Australian governments.
Asian immigration from war torn Vietnam, increased dramatically in the 1970's. Australia's relationship with the nearest Asian neighbours become increasingly tense duing this period, especially after Indonesia invaded East Timor.