Post-war Italians came to Australia in search of work, which would give them economic security and a better future for their families. Their intentions were to work hard, save their money and eventually migliorare la vita (make a better life for themselves).
Italian migrants began arriving in Australia in the mid-1800s. They were motivated by the need for work, the search for new opportunities, and the deprivations caused by war, poverty, crop failure and natural disaster. The majority of migrants came from rural communities, where seasonal work was a way of life.
In Australia there are large concentrations of Italians in many metropolitan areas of Australia. In particular, states such as New South Wales, and Victoria have larger populations of Italian-Australians than other states by national average. According to a recent study, 1 million Australians are of Italian descent.
From 1945 to 1972, 373,966 Italians came to live in Australia – the Italians were the second largest group of migrants after the British. The result of the immigration program was a doubling of Australia's population to 14 million by 1975.
With over 340,000 Italians having migrated to Australia, the National Archives holds many records which document Italians and their relationship with the Commonwealth government.
Currently more than 250,000 people speak Greek at home, while 378,265 people consider themselves of Greek origin in Australia. On the other hand, almost 317,000 speak Italian at home, whilst 916,121 Australians identify to be of Italian origin.
It is known that the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s attracted approximately 4,000 ethnic Italians to the colony. These immigrants primarily came from the Valtellina region in Lombardy or the southern Swiss cantons.
Many Anglo-Australians were hostile toward Italians. Commissions of in- quiry were set up to investigate the effect of Italian immigration on wages. Laws were passed to limit the types of jobs non-British migrants could take, and restricting land ownership.
Italians also worked as tradesmen and labourers on large construction sites including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and the Australia Square Building. Construction companies such as Electric Power Transmission (EPT), Transfield and Pioneer Concrete were established by Italian migrants.
According to Expatistan, the cost of living in Australia is around 35% more expensive than in Italy too. While there is a higher cost of living, a move to Australia will allow you to earn more while exploring the Asia Pacific region.
Economy. Australia has a GDP per capita of $48,700 as of 2020, while in Italy, the GDP per capita is $39,000 as of 2020.
Historically, most Italians have been Roman Catholics. Also, the majority of Italian immigrants who migrated to Australia have remained Catholics. In Brisbane, in which a large number of Italian migrants migrated in post WWII period, immigrants were actively involved in activities performed around Catholic Parishes.
The Italian presence in Australia predates the First Fleet. James Matra and Antonio Ponto, both of Italian descent, were aboard the ship 'Endeavour' with Captain James Cook on his voyage of discovery in 1770. Convict Giuseppe Tuzo arrived with the First Fleet, and eventually settled in Sydney.
From the very beginning, Italian immigrants made an impact on the Australian culture; especially the cuisine. They brought with them all the things we now love – garlic, olive oil, pizza, pasta… They especially played large role in introducing wine, and creating the coffee culture we are now so proud of.
Bilateral relations
Following the mass migration at the end of World War II, the Italian community has greatly contributed to Australian society, culture, and lifestyle, including in food, art, design, sport, and architecture. The 2021 Census recorded just over one million Australians of Italian descent.
In addition to a rich history, Italian culture consistently leads the way in style and fashion. The world's best gelato, rich home-cooked meals, remnants of the Roman Empire, snow-capped Alps, or picturesque coastal towns on the Adriatic Sea help Italians truly live la dolce vita (the sweet life).
Australia is translated in Italian by...
Sono andato in Australia, ma non ho visto alcun canguro. I went to Australia, but I didn't see any kangaroos. Il mio amico è australiano. My friend is from Australia.
More recently, Haberfield (the Garden Suburb) has also emerged as a thriving hub for Italian family-run businesses. Leichhardt is now world-famous as the Italian heart of Sydney. If you're after authentic cannelloni, the freshest cannoli, or Sydney's best Italian coffee, Little Italy is the place to be.
The Iron Age tribes of Italy are pre-Indo-European-speaking peoples, such as the Etruscans, Rhaetians, Camuni, Nuragics, Sicani, Elymians and the Ligures, and pre-Roman Indo-European-speaking peoples, like the Celts (Gauls and Lepontii) mainly in Northern Italy, and Iapygians, the Italic peoples throughout the ...
Italian emigration was fueled by dire poverty. Life in Southern Italy, including the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, offered landless peasants little more than hardship, exploitation, and violence.
The largest Italian-heritage communities outside of Europe are found in North and South America, particularly in Argentina, Brazil, and the United States.
In general, Italians move to countries with better career opportunities and a less traditional business culture. Why do Italians move abroad? According to the Expat Insider 2021 survey by InterNations, 60% of Italians working abroad name their career as the most important reason for moving.