Maltese Australian

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Maltese Australian

Flag of Malta Flag of Australia

Total population

Maltese
153,805 (by ancestry, 2006)[1]
43,701 (by birth, 2006).[2]

Regions with significant populations

Maltese Australians are residents of Australia who are of Maltese ancestry.

Contents

[edit] History

The first Maltese in Australia came to Queensland where they were confused with Italians. In some cases they even had "Born Malta, Italy" on their tombstones. After World War I Maltese immigration to Australia increased with Sydney, and the automobile industry, drawing a large share of the immigrants. A significant percentage of the Maltese immigrants had intended to stay only temporarily for work, but many settled in Australia permanently In addition to Melbourne and Sydney became homes to Maltese immigrants. The Maltese, as in their home country, are predominately Roman Catholic.[3]

[edit] Demographics

According to the 2006 Australian Census, 43,701 Australians were born in Malta.[2] Maltese ancestry was claimed by 153,805, either alone or with another ancestry.[1] The 2001 Australian Census reported that Maltese was the 14th most common self-reported ancestry.[4]

[edit] Notable individuals

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b 20680-Ancestry (full classification list) by Sex - Australia (Microsoft Excel download). 2006 Census. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved on 2008-05-27. Total responses: 25,451,383 for total count of persons: 19,855,288.
  2. ^ a b 20680-Country of Birth of Person (full classification list) by Sex - Australia (Microsoft Excel download). 2006 Census. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved on 2008-05-27. Total count of persons: 19,855,288.
  3. ^ Empire and Race: The Maltese in Australia, 1881-1949
  4. ^ 4102.0 - Australian Social Trends, 2003 : Population characteristics: Ancestry of Australia's population. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved on 2008-05-19. The ABS states in relation to the ancestry question for the 2001 census the purpose of an ancestry question is to capture current ethnic or cultural affiliations, which are by nature self-perceived, rather than to attempt to document actual historic family origins.