Testing the Boundaries of White Australia: Domestic Servants and Immigration Policy, 1901-45

Date

2003

Authors

Higman, Barry

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract

In the period 1901-45 Australian governments sought to increase the nation's domestic service workforce through immigration while confining that immigration to British sources. Implementation of the White Australia policy resulted in an active deportation of household workers, particularly in the tropical north. In spite of broad acceptance of race-based immigration restrictions as a national ideal, calls came from the tropical and pastoral margins for a relaxation specific to domestic service in order to encourage white women to settle in remote areas. Proponents of non-British immigration argued that such servants would enable the long-term achievement of White Australia but they met firm resistance.

Description

Keywords

Keywords: domestic work; historical perspective; immigrant population; immigration policy; race; Australasia; Australia; Australia; Deportation; Domestics; Immigration; Immigration Policy; Race; Australia; Domestics; Immigration; Immigration Policy; Race

Citation

Source

Immigrants and Minorities

Type

Journal article

Book Title

Entity type

Access Statement

License Rights

DOI

Restricted until

2037-12-31