On The Homefront: Migration

In Ipswich in the 20th Century, Robyn Buchanan wrote about post war population and immigration. She wrote: In the post-war era, there was a shortage of labour as well as goods and the Federal Government actively encouraged immigration. Fear of invasion of our sparsely-populated country was another reason for the migration program. British migrants were favoured but Ipswich MP Jos Francis commented that “we have an obligation to take those people from other lands whose homes have been destroyed and who want to come here.” People from countries other than Britain were usually referred to as “New Australians”. These however were almost all European because there was still a strong “White Australia” policy endorsed by all political parties.

In spite of the many shortages faced by the existing citizens, particularly in housing, the migrants were welcomed. To help them adjust, a branch of the New Settlers League was set up in Ipswich. Sponsored by Ipswich Rotary Club, the NSL held functions and provided advice and support.

A branch of the United Kingdom Women’s Club was also established, specifically aimed at British women.

The RSL (then the RSSAILA) sponsored ex-servicemen and their families. A typical group arrived in 1949, consisting of 11 families. Two families settled in Ipswich where jobs and accommodation had been arranged while the others went to Somerset Dam, Gatton, Grandchester and Harrisville where most of the men were to work on the land.

Many people who came here during the war wanted to return. A young Scottish man in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm had paid wartime visits to cousins at Bundamba. He liked Australia and in 1947, the Bundamba cousins agreed to sponsor him as a migrant. He arrived with 18 other family members. When this group had settled in and obtained work, they sent back letters which “painted a rosy picture of life in Australia” and a further seven members of the family followed – a total of 26 from the one extended family.

The Queensland Times published regular columns of advice to newcomers and often published photos of happy people enjoying their new life. A news story in 1952 focused on a recent Dutch immigrant who found that his clogs were ideal footwear for his job at the Central Ice Works.

The Wacol Migrant Centre opened in November 1949 and was able to house 1000 people while they looked for work and accommodation.

The migration program did not make a dramatic change in the ethnic mix of the Ipswich population. In 1961, almost 90% of the population had been born in Australia. About 6% had been born in Britain or Ireland and 3.4% in the rest of Europe, chiefly Germany and the Netherlands. Only 51 people had been born in New Zealand and only 183 people or 0.3% had been born in India, Pakistan or Asia.

The community was also strongly Christian with only a handful of people of “Hebrew”, Muslim or other religions.