Australian American

Not to be confused with American Australian.
Australian American
Errol Flynn · Rupert Murdoch · Mel Gibson · Flea · Mark Stoermer
Total population
60,965 (2000 United States Census data)
Regions with significant populations
California, Hawaii, New York
Related ethnic groups

British Americans · Britons · Cornish Americans · Canadian American · English Americans · Scottish Americans · Scots-Irish Americans · Welsh Americans · Irish Americans

An Australian American is a citizen of the United States who identifies with an Australian national background. This can include people of European, Asian, African or Pacific Islander backgrounds.

Contents

History

The story of the Australian American population almost follows the story of both British Americans and Irish Americans, as Australia was a British political territory at the time when they first emigrated and most of the settlers were Irish. The first wave of emigration from Australia to the United States came in the 1850s California Gold Rush when mostly Irish migrants who had escaped the Great Irish Famine had previously worked on the Australian goldfields. In San Francisco, the "Sydney Ducks" as they were known, were in violent conflict with nativist locals. Transpacific immigration then dried up while the American Civil War waged. It picked up during the period of Reconstruction, but faltered again when Australia was hit by a depression in the late 1890s. Immigration to the United States peaked in the years following World War II, due to America's increased economic activity, and the exodus of 15,000 Australian war brides who married US servicemen. From 1971 to 1990, more than 86,400 Australians and New Zealanders immigrated to the United States.[1]

Demographics

At the 2000 U.S. Census, 60,965 Australian born people were enumerated in the United States, of which 15,315 were citizens. Around 40% of Australian Americans had entered the United States before 1980.[2] Australians are predominantly white, but many Australians are descended from other races and ethnic groups. Some white Australians may have Australian Aborigine ancestry indigenous to the continent, and many other European and later Asian immigrants (i.e. Chinese, Southeast Asians, Indians and Middle Easterners to name a few) settled in the country since the end of World War II.

Notable Australian Americans

Business

Name Born – Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Jacques Nasser 1947– former CEO of Ford Motors born in Lebanon but raised in Australia lived in US as CEO of major US company
Rupert Murdoch 1931– CEO of News Corporation born in Australia became a naturalized US citizen in 1985

Public Service

Name Born – Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Richard W. Fisher 1949– Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Australian-American father US citizen at birth
John Henderson blind activist born in Australia came to US with parents as a child and settled there
Martin Indyk 1951– former US Ambassador to Israel British born, Australian raised US Government roles
James Wolfensohn 1933– former president of the World Bank born in Australia became naturalized US citizen in 1980

Politics

Name Born – Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Harry Bridges 1901–1990 International Longshore and Warehouse Union leader born in Australia became naturalized US citizen in 1945

Writers

Name Born – Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Jill Ker Conway 1934– writer born Australia works in US
Sumner Locke Elliott 1917–1991 writer of Careful, he might hear you born in Australia moved to US in 1948 and became naturalized US citizen in 1955

Scientists

Name Born – Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Paul D. Scully-Power 1944– oceanographer and astronaut born in Australia became naturalized US citizen in 1982
Terence James Elkins 1936– physicist, 1st ascent of Mount Elkins, 1979 Harold Brown Award recipient born in Australia emigrated to US in 1963, became naturalized US citizen in 1971
Philip K. Chapman born 5 March 1935 Astronaut Born in Australia emigrated to the US
Andy Thomas 18 December 1951 Astronaut Born in Australia emigrated to the US, US citizen in 1986

Artists

Name Born – Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Pat Oliphant 1935– New York Times cartoonist born in Australia emigrated to US in 1964

Sport

Name Born – Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Darren Bennett 1965– Australian rules and American football born, played in AFL played in NFL
Taj Burrow 1978– surfing born in Australia parents are US citizens
Jamie Dundee 1971– professional wrestling born in Australia moved to US aged 3
Taylor Dent 1981– tennis father is Australian born in US
Kyrie Irving 1992– basketball born in Australia parents are US citizens
Robert Machado 1973– surfing born in Sydney grew up and lives in California

Music

Name Born – Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Flea 1962– bassist for Red Hot Chili Peppers born in Australia lived US from age 5
John Butler 1962– lead singer for the John Butler Trio family moved to Australia at age 11 born in US; mother is US citizen
MC Lars 1982– rapper father Australian born in US
Mark Stoermer 1977– bassist for The Killers father is Australian born in US

Actors/Actresses

Name Born – Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Jacinda Barrett 1972– actress born in Australia moved to US in the 1990s; married to US citizen Gabriel Macht
Rod Taylor 1930– actor born in Australia moved to the US in 1951
Errol Flynn 1909–1959 actor born in Australia He became a naturalised citizen of the United States in 1942 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Errol_Flynn
Leon Errol 1881–1951 vaudeville born in Australia worked and died in US
Melissa George 1976– actress born in Australia moved to US in the 1990s; became naturalised US citizen in 2008[3]
Mel Gibson 1956– actor and director paternal grandmother was Australian and moved to Australia when he was 12 years old born US and holds dual citizenship in US and the Republic of Ireland; Australian resident
Anthony LaPaglia 1959– Without a Trace actor born in Australia lives and works in US
George Lazenby 1939– former Bond born in Australia lived in US and owned real estate there
Keir O'Donnell 1978– actor born in Australia lives and works in US
Nathalia Ramos 1992– actress born in Spain, mother is Australian lives and works in US
Helen Reddy 1941– actress, singer born in Australia naturalized US citizen
Ann Richards 1917–2006 actress born in Australia moved to US in 1942; father was US citizen
Tristan Rogers 1946– General Hospital actor born in Australia naturalized US citizen
Portia de Rossi 1973– actress born in Australia moved to US in the 1990s; married Ellen DeGeneres on 16 August 2008.
Kristen Stewart 1990– actress mother is Australian born in US
Nicole Kidman 1967– actress both parents are Australians; raised in Australia born in US with dual citizenship
Heath Ledger 1979–2008 actor born in Australia died in US
Mia Farrow 1945 – actress father is Australian born in US with dual citizenship
Sean Brosnan 1983 – actor mother was Australian US citizenship

Other

Name Born – Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Soledad O'Brien 1966– television journalist for CNN father is Australian born in US
Brianna Keilar 1980– television journalist for CNN born in Australia grew up in Orange County, California
Marsha Waggoner 1940– champion poker player born in Australia lived in US since 1977
Christopher Wilder 1945–1984 serial killer born in Australia emigrated to US in 1969; father is US citizen

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.everyculture.com/multi/A-Br/Australian-and-New-Zealander-Americans.html
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ Idato, Michael. "Entering a grey area", The Sydney Morning Herald, 2009-03-16. Retrieved on 2009-03-16.
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