Ten Pound Poms

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Ten Pound Poms is a colloquial term used in Australia to describe British subjects who migrated to Australia after the Second World War under an assisted passage scheme established and operated by the Australian Government. The programme attracted over one million British migrants between 1945 and 1972 and represented the the last substantial scheme for preferential migration from Britain to Australia.

Though in common currency, the term Ten Pound Pom is an inaccurate description as it was not solely limited to migrants from England — the usual meaning of pom. In fact, most British subjects were eligible and, at the time, that included not only the other peoples of Britain — such as the Scots, Welsh and Cornish — but also Manx, Channel Islanders, and residents of British colonies such as Malta and Cyprus. Irish citizens born before 1949 were eligible as they too were British subjects. One of the most famous Ten Pound Poms was Immigration Minister Al Grassby, who migrated from England, even though he was actually born in Australia to an Irish mother and Spanish father.

Created as part of the "Populate or Perish" policy, the scheme was designed to substantially increase the population of Australia and to supply workers for the country's booming industries. In return for subsidising the cost of travelling to Australia — adult migrants were only charged £10 for the fare, hence the name, and children were allowed to travel for free — the Government promised employment prospects, housing and a generally more optimistic lifestyle. However, on arrival, migrants were placed in basic hostels and the expected job opportunities were not always readily available.

Assisted migrants were generally obliged to remain in Australia for two years after arrival, or alternatively refund the cost of their assisted passage. It was also possible for many British persons to migrate to Australia on a non-assisted basis before the early 1970s, though most travelled as Ten Pounders.

Prior to 1 December 1973, migrants to Australia from Commonwealth countries were eligible to apply for Australian citizenship after one year's residence in Australia. From 1973 the residence requirement was three years, reduced to two years in November 1984. However, relatively few British migrants — compared to other postwar arrivals, such as Italians, Greeks and Turks — took up Australian citizenship. Consequently, many lost their Australian resident status later on, usually through leaving Australia.

Australia also operated schemes to assist selected migrants from other countries, notably Italy, Greece and Turkey.