Migrant selection documents held in Adelaide

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Postwar migration policies

Following World War II, Australia took advantage of the instability and insecurity in Europe, to encourage refugees and displaced persons to migrate to Australia. Using the catchcry of ‘populate or perish’, the Australian Government launched an immigration program in 1947. It was designed to increase the population by one per cent each year through migration from the United Kingdom and Europe.

Applicants were attracted by offers of assisted passage and accommodation for sponsored migrants. Between 1947 and 1983, nearly 3 million people – including 260,000 refugees and displaced persons – migrated to Australia. Over one third were from the United Kingdom.

The Department of Immigration was responsible for approving the entry of individuals and recording their arrival. Prospective applicants applied for assisted passage (producing what are known as migrant selection documents) and completed medical examination forms. They lodged their applications with the Chief Migration Officer in the capital city of their country of residence. Documents for migrants destined for the state of South Australia were then forwarded to the Adelaide office of the Department of Immigration.

Contents of migrant selection documents

Personal information in migrant selection documents usually consists of the migrants name, nationality, date and place of birth, spouse and children, and employment details. Many include passport-sized photographs. On some documents, names of next-of-kin or parents are included. Other information available in migrant selection documents concerns travel and accommodation arrangements and medical reports.

Migrant selection documents are arranged by the date of arrival and by the name of the ship or aircraft flight number.

Migrant selection documents held in Adelaide
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Personal documents of British migrants (including ex-service) 1952–55 AP67/1
Ships nominal rolls and personal documents of assisted British migrants 1955–58 AP120/1
Personal documents – British assisted migrants 1957–62 AP306/1
Personal documents – British assisted migrants 1958–59 AP175/1
Personal documents of British migrants 1963–65 AP366/1
Personal documents of British migrants 1965 AP320/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants 1965–66 AP381/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants 1966–67 AP457/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants 1967–68 AP504/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants (correspondence files re British Citizens’ assisted passages to Australia) 1967–69 AP576/1
Personal documents – British assisted migrants 1968–69 AP529/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants (correspondence files re British Citizens’ assisted passages to Australia) 1969 AP551/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants (correspondence files re British Citizens’ assisted passages to Australia) 1969–70 AP591/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants (correspondence files re British Citizens’ assisted passages to Australia) 1969–70 AP598/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants 1970–71 AP671/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants (correspondence files re British Citizens’ assisted passages to Australia) 1970 AP629/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants (correspondence files re British Citizens’ assisted passages to Australia) 1970 AP645/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants 1971 AP688/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants 1971 AP718/1
Personal documents for British assisted migrants 1971 AP702/1
British selection documents 1971–72 AP786/1
British selection documents 1971–72 AP727/1
British selection documents 1972 AP754/1
British selection documents 1972–73 AP838/1
British selection documents 1973 AP873/1
British selection documents 1973–74 AP912/1
British selection documents 1975–77 AP1121/3
Selection documents 1977–81 D3079
Application forms, medical examination documents and related papers of British and non-British migrants 1947–54 D1989
Forms 47A (medical examinations), landing and re-entry permits for migrants (assisted or otherwise) 1951–59 D4879