The Croatian-Speaking Community in Australia
Arrival
Croats first arrived in Australia around 1800. Early migrants came mainly from the Dalmatian islands and the region of Makarska. Most settled in Western Australia, Northern Queensland and New South Wales.
In the period between 1918 and 1945, settlers moved to Australia from Croatian-speaking areas of Europe, including Herzegovina, Boka Kotorska, Medjimurje, Lika, Kordun, Banovina and Knin. Many worked on the land in the tobacco and wine industries, and mining.
The second wave of migration started in 1948 with many Croatians coming to Australia from refugee camps in Austria, Italy and Germany. Due to deteriorating economic conditions in their homelands, another wave of Croatian-speaking migrants arrived in Australia in the 1970s. More recent arrivals have come as a result of displacement due to the Balkan War.
Settlement
The Croatian speaking community in Australia has settled predominately in New South Wales and Victoria. South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and Australian Capital Territory also have sizable communities.
The 1996 Australian Census figures for people speaking Croatian at home number just over 69,000. There are many more of Croatian background.
Much community activity has traditionally been based around the Catholic Church. There are also numerous cultural, sports, folkloric and music clubs. The church, the club and other organised community activities are seen as integral to the preservation of Croatian cultural identity.
Australians of Croatian background include the late Catholic Archbishop Beovic of Adelaide, the inventor of the orbital engine Ralph Saric, former Olympian weightlifter, Dean Lukin, South Australian Democrats Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja and the official artist for the Australian 2000 Olympics team, Charles Bilich.
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