Croatian Australians (Croatian: Hrvatski Australci), Australian Croats (Australski Hrvati)[2] or Croats in Australia (Hrvati u Australiji)[2][3][4] are Australian citizens of Croatian ancestry. Croatia has been a source of migrants to Australia, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s.
History
Prior to World War I
Croats were first encouraged to migrate to Australia during the gold rushes of the 1850s taking place in the British colonies of Victoria and New South Wales. Although migration was relatively small, Croatian travellers and sailors employed on merchant vessels played a significant role in spreading the news of the opportunities possible in Australia.[5]
In an interesting occurrence in October 1875, sixteen Croatian sailors aboard the vessel Stefano, became shipwrecked on the Ningaloo Reef along the West Australian coast. Ten survived to reach the shore where the local Yinikutira people gave them food and water, and found their map of the coast among the shipwreck's debris. By January 1876, all but two had died from hunger or exposure. The two survivors, Baccich (aged 16) and Jurich (aged 19), became part of a Yinikutira clan and spent the following three months living with them around the North West Cape. They were rescued by a pearler looking for Aboriginal labour in April 1876 and, after a few months in Fremantle, they returned to Europe.[6][5]
The Western Australian gold rushes in the 1890s started a significant migration of Croats (mainly from Dalmatia) to Australia and by the early part of the 20th century, there were around 2000 to 3000 people of Croatian origin in Australia, 80% of these residing in Western Australia.
Croats in Australia began to socially organize in 1910, when the Peasant Party (Seljačka stranka) was founded, which operated under the influence of the Radić brothers.[2][3] Party published the newsletter Seljačke novosti ('Peasant News'), and ceased to exist in 1922.[2][3] In Boulder-Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, the Croatian-Slavic Society (Hrvatsko-slavjansko društvo) was founded in 1912 .[2][3]
World Wars and Interwar period
Around 100 Australian Croats fought for the Allies during World War I. However, during this war around 600 non-naturalised Croats were interned at the Holsworthy Internment Camp where 20 died and about 500 were later deported from Australia in 1919.[5]
Croatian migration to Australia took on a different aspect after World War II due to unfavorable economic and political changes in Croatia. The number of Croatian emigrants in Australia increased significantly, and emigrants from the coastal and island areas continued to dominate.[2]
From 1945 to 1952, Australia's post-war immigration scheme saw around 170,000 Eastern European displaced persons, including Croatians, given residency. Some of these Croatian migrants were associated with the defeated Ustaše regime. In the context of the White Australia policy, Cold War anti-communism, and the shortage of workers at the time, the Ustaše in Australia were allowed to dominate and influence the Croatian migrant community through the establishment cultural and sporting clubs around Australia that promoted Ustaše ideals. This influence continues into 21st century Croatian-Australian society.[8][9][10][11]
During the 1960s and early 1970s, the Ustaše splinter groups in Australia led by people like Srećko Rover ran a campaign of bombings, intimidation and insurgency operations against pro-Yugoslav interests. Eventually, after a large bombing in Sydney injured many people, a crackdown on the Ustaše movement in the Croatian-Australia community occurred from late 1972. This was spearheaded by the Attorney-General, Lionel Murphy, who raided ASIO Headquarters and made public the files on the Croatian terrorist activities.[12][13][14][15]
In November 1977, an unofficial Croatian embassy was opened in Canberra, causing a legal and diplomatic difficulty for both the Australian and Yugoslav governments.[16] The embassy, aimed at raising awareness of Croatia as a nation and the Croatian people separate from Yugoslavia, remained open for 2 years closing in 1979. Its ambassador was Mario Despoja, the father of former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja.
Since the independence of Croatia in the 1990s, an official embassy has been opened in Canberra and consulates have been opened in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.[citation needed] Since 1991, the number of Croatians who have immigrated to Australia has been 30,000 and has been steadily declining since the beginning of 2000.[2]
Demographics
one dot denotes 100 Croatian-born Sydney residentsone dot denotes 100 Croatian-born Melbourne residents
As the level of immigration from Croatia has dropped significantly from the 1980s[2], the Croatian-born population is ageing.[17]
Croatian Australians historically have an exceptionally low rate of return migration to Croatia. In December 2001, the Department of Foreign Affairs estimated that there were 1,000 Australian citizens resident in Croatia, mainly in Zagreb.[18]
2001 Census
In 2001, there were 51,909 Croatians born in Croatia living in Australia.[2][3] Of this number, 52.3% were men and 47.7% were women.[2][3] The largest number of Australians of Croatian origin lived in the New South Wales (35.5%), followed by Victoria (34.0%) and Western Australia (12.2%). 80.7% had both parents born outside Australia, only 6.7% had both parents born in Australia, while the remainder had one parent born in Australia and one parent born outside.[2][3]
2011 Census
People of Croatian ancestry according to the 2011 census results
According to 2011 census, there were 126,264 Croatians (0.6% of Australian population).[3]
2021 Census
The 2021 Census data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that 43,302 persons resident in Australia identified themselves as having been born in Croatia, representing about 0.15% of the Australian population. The Census also noted 164,362 persons identified themselves as having Croatian ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry, representing a further 0.65% of the Australian population. Most of this demographic were shown to reside in Victoria and New South Wales.[17][19]
57% of the Croatian-born population was aged 65 years or older at the time of the 2021 Census. The 2021 data also revealed that 15% of Croatian born Australians spoke only Croatian at home, while 24% spoke only English at home, and 72% of Croatian born Australians recorded their religion as Catholic.[17]
Sport is an important part of Croatian Australian culture, whilst they are visible in numerous different sports, they are most notably visible in soccer, with numerous clubs established by local Croatian communities throughout the country,[20] the most notable and successful being Sydney Croatia and Melbourne Croatia. These clubs nurtured the soccer talents of a large number of Croatian Australians, many of whom now play professionally overseas. Croatian Australians have played for both Croatia and Australia. In the 2006 World Cup, there were seven Croatian Australians playing for Australia and three playing for Croatia. A total of 47 Croatian Australians have gone on to play for the Australian national soccer team, including 7 who captained the national team. The Australian-Croatian Soccer Tournament is the oldest running soccer competition in Australia.
Croatian Folkloric Arts Festival is held in Adelaide[22] New South Wales Folklore Society Association in Sydney gathers and coordinates Croatian groups in the NSW area.[3]
Croats in Australia from the Sali on Dugi Otok island organised themselves into "Sons of Sali" (S.O.S.) and "Sisters of Sali". They organise the Annual Sons of Sali Picnic and Bocce competition, as well as SOS Karte nights.[25]
Clubs
Australia is home to numerous Croatian clubs and societies.[2][3] Most of them are located in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Canberra, in premises owned and built by the Croatian community.[2][3]
Since 1975, the state-owned station SBS has been broadcasting programs in the Croatian language, and in 1989, Croatian language teaching began as an elective subject in secondary schools.[2]
Australian Croats have organized Croatian language classes in Croatian Catholic centers and Sunday schools since the 1970s.[2] Croatian language classes are offered in the regular school system, and the Croatian Ministry of Education supports classes with textbooks and other teaching aids.[2] The first chair of Croatian studies was established in 1983 at Macquarie University in Sydney.[2] Since 1998, the same university has also opened a Center for Croatian Language Studies.[2] In February 2008, the Center for Croatian Studies in the World was opened at Macquarie University, as a joint project with the University of Split.[2]
The Association of Croatian Language Teachers in Victoria, established in the 1970s, helped in developing Croatian language programs for primary and secondary schools in Victoria.
Australian Croatian Community Services (ACCS), based in Footscray, provides Croatian language courses[27]
Croatian is also learnt in Croatian schools and some language schools, for ex. in the New South Wales.[26] Croatian is an optional (elective) subject at the graduation exam.[26]
Some of the Croatian schools in the NSW include:[26]
There are Croatian language programs at the SBS since 1975.[2] First associates of the SBS's Croatian language program were Ivana Bačić Serdarević and Vesna Lušić.[30] Among the radios, there are Croatian Radio Australia in Sydney and 3ZZ in Melbourne, Croatian Program World Radio and Radio Fremantle – Croatian Program.[2] Independent channel 31 broadcasts a weekly television show for the Croatian community.[2] Satellite programs of the Croatian Radio Television and international programs of Croatian Radio (24 hours) can also be followed throughout Australia.[2]
The most prominent humanitarian organizations include:[3]
Australian-Croatian Community Services (Australsko-hrvatske društvene usluge), Melbourne, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to the elderly and disabled
Adria Village Limited, founded in 1989 by the voluntary work of members of the Croatian community in Canberra, officially opened in 1994
Cardinal Stepinac Village, a retirement home and care facility
Croatian Caritas Australia
Economy
Wines
Among prominent vineyards and wineries established and held by Croatian descendants in Australia are Talijancich Wines[33], Katgully Wines[34], Windy Creek Estate[35], John Kosovich Wines[36] etc.
List of notable Croatian Australians
Entertainment and the arts
Steve Abbott – comedian, The Sandman, Russian/Croatian mother
Josipa [Knežević] Draisma – comedian, singer, actor, writer and theatre maker.
Mikelangelo (Michael Simic) aka The Balkan Elvis – singer (solo, Johnny Presley and the Zagreb Allstars, Mikelangelo and the Tin Star). Father is Croatian from Tučepi, Croatia.
Rex Radonich (1950–1986) – Banjo player in Australian Bluegrass band Bullamakanka. Was regarded as the best at picker at the time. Grandson of Mate Radonic (born Podgora Croatia) of New Zealand.
Natalie D-Napoleon – (Croatian father and mother) – Australian singer-songwriter and poet.
Tony Slavich – keyboardist – Ariel, Sun, Mike Rudd and the Heaters, Mondo Rock, Goldrush, Ross Ryan band, Richard Clapton Band.
Adalita, born Adalita Srsen, solo performer and member of Magic Dirt. Her father is Croatian.
Luka Budak – author, Head of Croatian Studies, Macquarie University.
Val Colic-Peisker – associate professor, sociologist and author.
Vesna Drapac – Associate Professor of History at University of Adelaide, author ("Constructing Yugoslavia: A Transnational History" 2010).
Roman Krznaric – social philosopher, author ("The Wonderbox: Curious histories of how to live" 2011, "How to Find Fulfilling Work (The School of Life)" 2013 , "How Should We Live?: Great Ideas from the Past for Everyday Life" 2015, "Empathy: Why It Matters, and How to Get It" 2015, "The First Beautiful Game: Stories of Obsession in Real Tennis" 2015, "Carpe Diem: Seizing the Day in a Distracted World" 2017) and founder of the Empathy Museum.
Ralph Pervan (1938–1980) – academic and author ("Tito and the students : the university and the university in self-managing Yugoslavia" 1978), namesake of the "Ralph Pervan scholarship", University Hall, Western Australia.
Zed Seselja – politician, senator (Liberal Party), ACT
Natasha Stott Despoja – federal politician, senator (Australian Democrats) – South Australia
Zorana Balaban – lawyer (Websters lawyers), South Australia
Other
Mate Alac – (Born Drašnice, Croatia 1908 – 1997)- Miner (in Western Australia) and author of memoir "Into The World" (1992).
Vincent Abbott – gold hunter, pioneer of the Murchison Goldfields and who had the town of Abbotts, Western Australia named after him. He was born Vincent Vranjican in the town of Starigrad, Island of Hvar, Dalmatia, Croatia.
Matthew Beovich – Roman Catholic priest, Archbishop of Adelaide.
^ abcdefghijklmŠikić, Tomislav (2 July 2019). "Hrvati u Australiji" [Croats in Australia]. Voice of Croatia (in Croatian). Croatian Radio Television (HRT).
^"Hrvati u Australiji" [Croats in Australia]. geografija.hr (in Croatian). 18 July 2005.
^"THE LOSS OF THE "STEFANO."". The Herald. Vol. X, no. 16. Western Australia. 20 May 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 24 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"CROATIAN REGIME". The West Australian. Vol. 57, no. 17, 132. Western Australia. 4 June 1941. p. 5. Retrieved 24 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"NBA champ Andrew Bogut: 'I grew up in Australia but was raised Croatian'". croatiaweek.com. 21 February 2023. Andrew, who learned the Croatian language and about customs at home growing up, says that made the transition easy when he finally did visit Croatia. 'I consider myself both (Croatian and Australian). A lot of ideals and hardheadedness come from my Croatian side, and I think that is a good thing at times, and I am also proud of the fact that Australia has provided a lot for myself and my family.'
Further reading
Colic-Peisker, Val.(2000) Croatian and Bosnian migration to Australia in the 1990s. Studies in Western Australian history, No.21, (Being Australian women), p. 117–136.
Colic-Peisker, Val.(2004) Split lives: Croatian Australian stories North Fremantle, W. Aust.: Fremantle Arts Centre Press. ISBN1-920731-08-3
Walter F Lalich and Luka Budak – Croatian Studies Centre, Macquarie University (2008). "Croatians". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 4 October 2015. (Croatians in Sydney)
