Sikhism in Australia
91,745 (1.41%) | |
New South Wales | 47,165 (0.58%) |
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Queensland | 27,713 (0.54%) |
Western Australia | 18,583 (0.70%) |
South Australia | 17,259 (0.97%) |
Languages | |
Australian English • Punjabi Hindi • Urdu | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Australian Sikhs number over 210,000 people and account for 0.8% of Australia's population
Pre-Federation: 1830s–1901
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Sikhism |
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Early migrants: indentured labourers and cameleers
It is difficult to separate the history of early Sikh arrival to Australia from that of the numerous other religious faiths that were represented the people of
"Initially, the migrants from India were
Entrepreneurial migrants: travelling rural hawkers
Towards the end of the 19th century, Indian
Some of the earliest arrivals in Australia, whose families / offspring continue to live in Australia. They have reached their 4th-5th generation now in Australia.
1. 1885 - Surjan Singh Johal (Jandiala, Jalandhar) 2. 1885 - Mahan Singh Grewal (Dhaliwal, Jalandhar) 3. 1889 - Baba Ram Singh Rai (Bhulla Rai, Jalandhar) 4. 1890 - Pal Singh Pooni (Muthada Kalan, Jalandhar) 5. 1890 - Oudham Singh Arkan (Malpur Arkan, Nawanshahr) 6. 1890 - Gharne Singh Malhi (Chugha Kalan, Moga) 7. 1893 - Mangal Singh Bains (Bilga, Jalandhar) 8. 1893 - Prem Singh Majhel (Bhalojala, Amritsar) 9. 1894 - Khem Singh Bhatti (Sahlon, Nawanshahr) 10. 1895 - Beer Singh Johal (Jandiala, Jalandhar) 11. 1895 - Bella Singh Bhangal (Amargarh, Nawanshahr) 12. 1895 - Inder Singh Arkan (Malpur Arkan, Nawanshahr) 13. 1896 - Jualla (Jolla) Singh Sohal (Atta, Jalandhar) 14. 1896 - Santa Singh Atwal (Bara Pind, Jalandhar) 15. 1896 - Narain Singh Hayer (Heran, Jalandhar) 16. 1897 - Jawala Singh Lalli (Lallian, Hoshiarpur) 17. 1897 - Inder Singh Bagri (Chak Kalan, Jalandhar) 18. 1898 - Waryam Singh Sidhu (Mansurpur, Jalandhar) 19. 1898 - Indar Singh Sondhu (Jalandhar) 20. 1899 - Genda Singh Atwal (Rasulpur, Nawanshahr) 21. 1899 - Karam Singh (Boparai Kalan, Jalandhar) 22. 1900 - Sarna Singh Dhesi (Sang Dhesian, Jalandhar) 23. 1900 - Gunda Singh Bains (Bains, Jalandhar) 24. 1901 - Basawa Singh Bassi (Bundala, Jalandhar) 25. 1901 - Kishan Singh Chohan (Chohan Nagar, Jalandhar) 26. 1901 - Thakur Singh More (Sadhpur, Nawanshahr) 27. 1901 - Inder Singh Dhadlie (Golewal, Nawanshahr) 28. 1901 - Inder Singh Thandi (Thandian, Nawanshahr) 29. 1902 - Moti Singh Benning (Kishanpura, Nawanshahr) 30. 1902 - Munsha Singh Toor (Dhaliwal, Jalandhar) 31. 1910 - Bakhtawar (Buck) Singh Samrai (Samrai, Jalandhar) 32. 1880~1901 - Sewa Singh Dhesi (Kahna Dhesian, Jalandhar) 33. 1880~1901 - Arjan Singh Sandhar (Nawan Pind, Jalandhar) 34. 1880~1901 - Bhulla Singh Sodhi (Mehmoodpur, Nawanshahr) 35. 1880~1901 - Ganga Singh Gosal (Ratainda, Nawanshahr) 36. 1880~1901 - Lachman Singh Sanghera (Bilga, Jalandhar) 37. 1880~1901 - Gurbhan Singh (Bilga, Jalandhar) 38. 1880~1901 - Karam Chand (Bilga, Jalandhar) 39. 1880~1901 - Gurdit Singh (Bara Pind, Jalandhar) 40. 1880~1901 - Jewan Singh (Chak, Jalandhar) 41. 1880~1901 - Dalip Singh (Dhuleta, Jalandhar) 42. 1880~1901 - Ram Singh (Bilga, Jalandhar) 43. 1880~1901 - Booja Singh (Chak, Jalandhar) 44. 1880~1901 - Nanak Chand (Bilga, Jalandhar) 45. 1880~1901 - Bishan Das (Dhaliwal, Jalandhar)
CEDT - Certificate of Exemption from the Dictation Test
Many of the early Sikh pioneers obtained Certificates exempting them from a dictation test that non-whites had to undergo if they wanted to enter Australia after 1901. However, it is not known how the Sikhs that entered for the first time after 1901 continued to or were permitted to reside and work in Australia.
The Dictation Test was a written test in any European language chosen at random by the Migration Officers. It was primarily designed to keep non-white people from entering Australia. However, any Indian or other non-white person who was resident in Australia before 1900 could, if they chose to leave Australia, leave after applying for the CEDT, which would ensure that they could return to Australia at a time of their choosing and not undergo a Dictation Test.
Many people of all nationalities left Australia and later re-entered Australia with little difficulty.
During the White Australia Policy: 1901–1973
From federation in 1901 until 1973, immigration of non-whites, including Sikhs, into Australia was restricted due to the enactment of the White Australia policy. The laws made it impossible for Sikhs to enter the country unless they were merchants or students, who themselves were only allowed in for short periods of time; it also made it impossible for Sikhs who already lived in the country from returning to the motherland, as they would be barred re-entry. Historians place the number of Indians in Australia at federation in 1901 somewhere between 4700 and 7600.[5] According to the 1911 census, there was only 3698 'Indians' (mostly Sikh) signifying a large decrease, with the trend continuing, with only approximately 2200 'Indians' in the country in 1921.[7]
Open discrimination of non-whites before the passing of the laws was also widespread. After the conclusion of
The Sikhs began to use their new-found rights in the 1930s when the early pioneers begun to bring their 'sons of working age' to Australia. Initially they had a strong presence in the
The
In the 1950s and 1960s the Sikhs worked hard and started to purchase land and start their own banana farms. With steady work and income, the Sikh men started to bring their wives from Punjab to Australia. In 1961 there were six Sikh women in Woolgoolga, creating Sikh households and Sikh children born in Australia. As Indians were allowed naturalisation, the first true Sikh Australians came into being. The pull of the Sikh community in Woolgoolga led to Sikhs from other areas of the country migrating to Woolgoolga in the hope they could follow their kinsmen to a banana led success. In 1968 the First Sikh Temple was opened in Woolgoolga, becoming the first Gurdwara to be opened in the country.[8]
Post White Australia Policy: 1973–Present
With the enactment of the
Whereas early immigration was mainly as labourers working in the country, new migrants are now mainly based around the major cities, working in a variety of fields from driving taxis to health professionals.
Demographics
According to the 2021 census, the Sikh population numbered 210,400 individuals, of the majority (91,745) live in Victoria (state) followed by 47,165 in New South Wales. The lowest population is in Northern Territory which is 1,401.
State/territory | 2021 | 2016 | 2011
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2006
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2001
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1991
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Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
Victoria
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91,745 | 1.41% | 52,762 | 0.89% | 29,382 | 0.55% | 9,040 | 0.18% | 4,601 | 0.1% | 2,085 | 0.05% |
New South Wales | 47,165 | 0.58% | 31,737 | 0.42% | 21,748 | 0.31% | 11,618 | 0.18% | 8,600 | 0.14% | 3,320 | 0.06% |
Queensland | 27,713 | 0.54% | 17,433 | 0.37% | 9,357 | 0.22% | 2,627 | 0.07% | 1,961 | 0.06% | 1,000 | 0.04% |
Western Australia | 18,583 | 0.7% | 11,897 | 0.48% | 4,927 | 0.22% | 1,407 | 0.07% | 1,092 | 0.06% | 615 | 0.04% |
South Australia | 17,259 | 0.97% | 8,808 | 0.53% | 5,301 | 0.33% | 1,230 | 0.08% | 823 | 0.06% | 510 | 0.04% |
Australian Capital Territory | 4,323 | 0.95% | 2,142 | 0.54% | 1,083 | 0.3% | 361 | 0.11% | 249 | 0.08% | 138 | 0.05% |
Tasmania | 2,208 | 0.4% | 488 | 0.1% | 233 | 0.05% | 71 | 0.01% | 71 | 0.02% | 46 | 0.01% |
Northern Territory | 1,401 | 0.6% | 634 | 0.28% | 265 | 0.13% | 42 | 0.02% | 40 | 0.02% | 36 | 0.02% |
Australia | 210,400 | 0.83% | 125,901 | 0.54% | 72,296 | 0.34% | 26,396 | 0.13% | 17,437 | 0.09% | 7,750 | 0.05% |
Year | Pop. | ±% |
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Victoria (0.89%) and the Australian Capital Territory (0.54%), whereas those with the lowest are the Northern Territory (0.28%) and Tasmania (0.10%).[10]
Fertility RateAs of 2016, the reported fertility rate of Sikhs in Australia are 2.01. This is currently below replacement rate of 2.1.[11]
Legacy and celebrationsAustralian Sikh heritageSikh cremation site.[13] The winding trail features interpretive signage, plaques, benches, a sheltered area, and a boardwalk by the river.[14] Information on the signs is organised by theme, such as Sikh farmers, Sikh wrestlers, Sikh Anzacs, Sikh hawkers and Sikh entrepreneurs.[14]
flying boats that arrived at Broome, Western Australia when a Japanese air attack destroyed them all. Singh survived the attack only to drown in the harbour. Singh is remembered on the Darwin Military Museum Memorial Wall[15] and has a memorial in Singapore.[16]
Australian Sikh GamesIn 1988 the first annual Australian Sikh Games commenced, with Sikhs from South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales arriving in Tug o' war, volleyball and cricket are also included, while track and field and golf event have been previously competed but are currently non-competition events. Non-sports cultural events such as Bhangra and Giddha are also held simultaneously in the host city.[17]
Punjabi language in AustraliaPunjabi is the 13th most common language in Australia with over 130,000 speakers[18] and it is the 3rd most common language spoken at home among recent migrants. 81% of Punjabi speakers are Sikhs, 13.3% are Hindus and 1.4% are Muslims.[19] See also
References
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