Since European settlement to Australia began in 1788 more migrants have come from Great Britain to settle in Australia than from any other country.
Prior to Federation in 1901 each colony administered its own immigration programs. All encouraged migration from Great Britain under schemes designed to fill gaps in the population or labour force. While Federation provided the Commonwealth government with the power to make laws in relation to immigration, programs for British migration often involved both the Commonwealth and state governments.
From 1920 many of these programs, although in receipt of Commonwealth funding, were administered by the state governments. Most case files for migrants who settled under these schemes, or who arrived in Australia before 1901, were maintained by the state (or colony) to which the person migrated and – if they have survived – will be held by the respective state government archives.
Many policy and general files relating to these programs and which include the names of migrants, as well as some individual case files, are held in Canberra. Many other records relating to British migrants, including passenger lists and naturalisation files, are also held by the National Archives.
Group Settlement (1921–37)
The Group Settlement scheme was designed to increase the population in sparsely settled rural areas while also providing work for migrants as farm labourers. Migrants were settled in groups on rural blocks and provided with equipment and funds to establish a viable farm. Records held by the National Archives include many policy and administrative files of the agency responsible for the scheme – the Prime Minister’s Department Development Branch – mainly in series A786. These records include case files for a small number of group settlers, and files that include information on specific farms.
British ex-servicemen and women
Pensions for British ex-servicemen and women who later became residents of Australia were administered by the Australian Government. The Canberra office holds case files for individual servicemen in the series listed overleaf. Access to these files is usually restricted to the subjects themselves or their direct descendants. Relevant series are also held by other offices of the Archives.
Assisted migration after 1950
Selection documents for British people who migrated to Australia under assisted passage schemes after 1950 are held in series A1877. Further information is available in migrant selection documents held in Canberra.
Selected records relating to British migration held in Canberra
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Group settlement – Western Australia | 1921–28 | A786, X22/5 part 1 |
| Group settlement – Western Australia | 1932–34 | A786, X22/5 part 3 |
| Miscellaneous records of the Development Branch | 1922–35 | CP272/4, bundle 1 |
| Land settlement – Victoria | 1926–27 | A786, J22/2 part 2 |
| Land settlement – Victoria | 1925–31 | A786, J22/2 part 4 |
| Group settlement – Western Australia – Catterick settlers | 1929–30 | A786, AC22/5 |
| Group settlement – Western Australia – Valuation Board reports | 1929–30 | A786, AE22/5 |
| Migrant settlers – individual complaints | 1927–31 | A786, 61/2 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| British pensions – 1914–18 war | 1923– | A2808 |
| British pensions – 1939–45 war | 1940– | A2809 |
| British pensions – merchant seamen – 1939–45 war | 1940– | A2810 |
| British pensions – civilians –1939–45 war | 1943–73 | A2811 |
| British Service Department Pensions – Commonwealth Relations Office | 1954–73 | A2812 |
| British Service Department Pensions – Admiralty | 1954–73 | A2813 |
| British Service Department Pensions – Air Ministry | 1954–73 | A2814 |
| British Service Department Pensions – War Office | 1954–73 | A2815 |
| British Service Department Pensions – Crown agent colonies | 1954–73 | A2816 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| British migrant selection documents – Commonwealth nominees | 1950–73 | A1877 |
| Professional British migrant selection documents | 1947–66 | A12548 |
| Professional Non-British migrant selection documents | 1954–65 | A12569 |
British citizenship and naturalisation
Prior to 26 January 1949 the process of naturalisation conferred British nationality on applicants. Residents of British (or naturalised British) status were therefore not required to seek naturalisation in order to become Australian citizens. As a consequence there are no naturalisation records for British migrants before 1949.
The concept of a separate Australian nationality was only recognised when naturalisation legislation was amended on 26 January 1949. After this date British migrants who wished to become Australian citizens were required to apply for naturalisation. Naturalisation records are held for British people who applied for Australian citizenship after January 1949.
Child migration
Migration of children, usually under schemes such as Dr Barnardo’s, Big Brother or Fairbridge Farm Schools, was also actively encouraged.
Other sources for British migration
Other sources of information on British migrants, including passenger lists and migrant selection
documents, may be found in the following:
- the National Archives' research guide, More People Imperative: Immigration to Australia, 1901–39, by Michelle Langfield, and
- Passenger records held in Canberra