The French in Australia : with special emphasis on the period 1788-1947

Abstract

This thesis outlines the course of French immigration and settlement in Australia, concentrating on the years 1788-1947. It also briefly reviews the early explorations of the French navigators along the Australian coast (as witness the French place names) and the recent developments of the period 1947-1976. It uses various statistical and historical materials, both published and unpublished; the former reveal the patterns of immigration and settlement, the latter illustrate these patterns and bring to light both the reasons for the presence of the French in Australia and their contributions to its development. Although the immigration of French people into Australia has always been relatively small and their settlement scattered, their presence has been noticeable throughout the history of Australia, not only through the French culture and language but in such different areas as farming, winegrowing, science, technology and trade. The friendly relations which France and Australia entertained during the two World wars have also been important in maintaining the French presence in Australia. The immigration of the French into Australia has usually been one of individuals who came to this part of the world because they had some interest here (land, gold, wool, diffusion of French culture, etc.) and subsequently settled, as individuals rather than as members of ethnic settlements. This limited the number of ethnic communities and organizations, though a few did appear and survive. In spite of their small numbers and scattered settlement, however, the French in Australia have often successfully contributed to the development of many areas, as many were well-qualified and enterprising settlers. Because of their small numbers, but even more so because of their characteristics and patterns of immigration and settlement>the history of the French in Australia is very different from that of most other immigrant populations. Show more