Migration Empire 1830 1939 Emigrant Scots in Australia

Migration & Empire, 1830 -1939 Emigrant Scots in Australia

Emigrant Scots in Australia In today’s class I am learning to: • Describe the impact of Scottish emigrants in Australia

Emigrant Scots in Australia During the 1800 s and 1900 s Australia was an emigrant destination for large numbers of Scots, and they influenced the country in different ways.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Scots have moved to live in Australia since the 1700 s. Most chose to go to build a new life, some went as part of Britain’s army and some even served a prison sentence. Between 1830 and 1850 around 40, 000 Scots made the long journey.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Initially the majority of Scottish emigrants to Australia came from the Lowlands, but over time more Highlanders chose to move there. Even to this day, more than two million Australians claim to have Scottish heritage.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Economy and Enterprise

Emigrant Scots in Australia Emigrant Scots had a significant impact on Australia’s economic development. They found jobs working in a range of different industries, and they also had a role in setting up businesses and bringing changes to the country.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Scots had a strong reputation as hard workers, helping make it easier to find work. This included being stonemasons, tradesmen such as joiners, engineers and toolmakers. Others worked in professional roles like lawyers.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Scots played a major role in Australia’s farming industry. Many Highland Lowland Scots took their farming skills and either set up their own farms (sometimes with land grants) or worked on other people’s farms.

Emigrant Scots in Australia John Mac. Arthur was a military officer from a Scottish family. He set up a farm in Australia and began to introduce flocks of sheep. The success of this venture meant he is considered as a main founder of Australia’s sheep industry.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Scots also helped develop the alcohol industry in Australia. Robert Mc. Cracken from Ayrshire moved to Melbourne and started a beer brewing company which became one of the biggest in the entire country.

Emigrant Scots in Australia James Harrison’s work made a major impact in the economy and homes. Harrison moved to Australia to set up a printing company. However he ended developing machines which were used to make refrigerators.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Other people with Scottish backgrounds were involved in wine making. Samuel Mc. William (from Ireland but whose great grandfather was Scottish) set up a wine farm in New South Wales, growing it to become one of the country’s largest.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Mining played a major role in attracting Scots to live and work in Australia. Some Scots – using the skills they had gained in Scotland – worked in coal mining. Others were attracted by the potential riches that gold mining offered.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Scots also had a significant influence in banking. Lesslie Duguid helped found the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, whilst other Scots held senior positions in the Bank of New South Wales and the Bank of Australia.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Ships and shipbuilding played a major role in Scottish emigrant lives. Robert Campbell from Greenock opened Australia’s first shipyard. Many Scots later went to work in the shipyards of Australia, taking skills learned in Scotland.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Scots helped found various famous brands. A Scottish emigrant’s son set up Mac. Robertson’s chocolate company, making products such as Freddos. Alexander Mac. Rae from Ross founded a company which made Speedo swimwear.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Culture and religion

Emigrant Scots in Australia had a major impact on their new home on issues such as: • Religion • Education • Politics • Sport • Music

Emigrant Scots in Australia Some Scots travelled to Australia as missionaries trying to spread the Christian message. They often tried to convert native communities, or else they set up churches to provide religious support to Scottish emigrants.

Emigrant Scots in Australia John Dunmore Lang helped spread the Presbyterian Church across Australia. He initially arranged the building of one church in New South Wales, which gradually spread. Lang also supported education by opening a school.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Other Scots made the journey to work as teachers, or helped develop Australia's’ education system. Many Scottish emigrants opened schools, such as Scots College in Sydney, set up for the children of farmers.

Emigrant Scots in Australian university education was also influenced by Scots. St Andrew’s College in Sydney was as founded by Scottish emigrants in 1867 (to promote religious education). The college later became part of the University of Sydney.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Many Scots played an active role in Australian politics, helping influence the country’s government. Andrew Fisher of Ayrshire became Australian Prime Minister three times between 1908 and 1915. He also led the Australian Labor Party.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Other Scots were involved in local politics. John Hunter, Lachlan Macquarie and Thomas Brisbane were governors of New South Wales. Macquarie has many streets named after him in Sydney and a city was named after Brisbane.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Emigrant Scots often named towns in Australia after locations in Scotland. This includes places such as Perth, Dundee and Ayr. Also one of Australia’s main cities, Brisbane, was named after a Scottish emigrant, Thomas Brisbane.

Emigrant Scots in Australia The Scots’ influence on towns and cities in Australia was not just limited to names. Many of the architects and builders who built parts of Australia came from Scotland, such as James Barnet and George Mc. Rae.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Scots also brought different types of music and poetry to Australia. Some emigrants set up Burns Clubs and also held Burns Suppers each year. Also, the famous Australian song Waltzing Matilda was written based on a Scottish tune.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Other clubs were established which allowed Scots to meet and remember their homelands, such as through music or food. Caledonian Societies and St Andrew’s Societies appeared in different towns in Australia.

Emigrant Scots in Australia The Scots also influenced Australia – and kept links with home – through the playing of sport. Highland Games were played in Scottish communities, and other Scottish sports such as Shinty was also found in migrant communities.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Native societies

Emigrant Scots in Australia There was extreme tension between immigrants to Australia (such as Scots) and the native peoples. The British gave native Australians the name aborigines, although this wasn’t a name the natives used themselves.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Land arguments were the main cause of conflict between Scottish settlers and aborigines. Scots wanted land for farming and to build towns, but this meant taking aborigine land, including often sacred and holy places.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Professor Tom Devine, a well known Scottish historian, has pointed out a strange element of Scots taking aborigine land: “It was ironic that some of those most notoriously involved were Highlanders who had themselves suffered clearance. ”

Emigrant Scots in Australia Arguments were also caused when aborigines took animals being farmed by the Scots. All of this led to battles between Scots and aborigines. Many aborigines were killed by Scottish settlers as a result of this.

Emigrant Scots in Australia One infamous attack involving the two groups took place at Warrigal Creek in 1843. Twenty settlers – led by a Scottish emigrant called Angus Mac. Millan – hunted down and killed at least 60 aborigines, and possibly up to 180.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Disease was also an issue which caused problems for native Australian people. Many Scots (and other European migrants) had diseases such as smallpox. Aborigines could not cope with these illnesses and large numbers died as a result of this.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Scottish emigrants also had a role in splitting up aborigine families. Some Scots believed it was their job to ‘civilise’ the aborigines, whether by teaching them the Christian religion, or other actions such as learning to speak English.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Large numbers of native Australian children were taken from their parents and sent to schools where they were taught European values. Governor Lachlan Macquarie set up the Native Institution to teach the Aboriginal children.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Children who went to the Native Institute were only allowed to see their parents once per year. Between 1869 and 1969, 100, 000 Aboriginal children were forcibly taken from their families, most commonly never seeing them again.

Emigrant Scots in Australia Other Scots tried to influence aborigines by changing their religious beliefs. Missions were set up to not only try and convert Aborigines to Christianity, but also to allow emigrant Scots to continue their faith once overseas.