Is there really a large Croatian population in Australia? If so, what's behind it?

Question

I'm from the United States, but it seems to me (from that there is a sizeable Croatian presence in Australia. Am I imagining things? Assuming I'm not, was this a planned thing on the part of the Australian government (viz. Turks in Germany) or did it occur more organically?

Answer 1

There is a llot of Croatians in Australia.

I am one. In Brisbane there is a nice and friendly community consisting of about 200 to 500 people I think I am only a kid thiugh I could be wrong so yeh. We have a soccer club called Rocklea United and we are the bomb I think anyway

Answer 2

There are a lot of Croatians in Australia, and that would be because  they immigrated here. Do you understand?

Answer 3

I am thinking that there is a larger acceptance/opportunity for Croatians to succeed in Australia. It could be similar to the Jewish Diaspora or African Diaspora. Either way, it doesn't matter where you're from, you can go wherever you want in this world and make a living. Especially if you're determined.

Answer 4

Who runs big business and has lots of money that's who's behind immigration. One day people will connect the dots.

Answer 5

A better question is why so many Croatians wanted to leave their country. The answer is Serbian domination.

Answer 6

Have you ever been to Croatia? Is Australia nicer?

Answer 7

I think the Croats just figured out that this is a nice place to live

Answer 8

no idea...............................

Answer 9

There is a large Croation population in Australia. Many of these people are descended from those who came post WWII as refugees under the Assisted Passage program.

In the 1950's Australia had a massive immigration program, drawing tens of thousands of displaced persons from all over Europe.

The Liberal Government of the time, led by Robert Menzies instituted what they called The White Australia Policy. It stipulated that potential immigrants should be as fair skinned as possible. That  blue eyes were preferable to brown and that blonde hair was especially desirable.

So many Croatian people qualified as their physical characteristics fit perfectly into the racial profile sought by the immigration reps in the refugee camps.

This was supposed to keep the country from becoming too ethnically diverse. The theory being that if the new arrivals looked more like those already here they would integrate more quickly.

As a result many people from Russia and the Slavic regions qualified for entry to Australia as assisted migrants. Their fare over was paid for (themselves and their family) but they had to work in specified industries such as construction, engineering etc for two years until they had repaid the debt.

There is a large Serbian population in Australia too, but by and large there have never been ethnic tensions between the two groups though they do tend to keep very separate cultural and sporting activities. There was some protesting and back and forth accusations during the worst of the trouble in the former Yugoslavia but they never progressed beyond the spirited street protest level.

Answer 10

Yes, there is a sizable Croatian population Down Under. The White Australia Policy made European Immigrants trying to escape post-WW2 Europe feel VERY welcome here, and the Croats were one of the groups to take advantage of this. The White Australia Policy is no longer practiced.

Answer 11

It was theyre choice to immigrate to Australia. Your assumptions are imaginary.

Answer 12

Planned?  We want asians here as much as you like having mexians.  What citizen wouldn't want foreigners willing to work their job for a fraction of the wage?

Answer 13

Yes. there is. in Asia.

I saw it in geography paper which i downloaded from http://www.theexampapers.com

Answer 14

Yes

Answer 15

Migration.

Answer 16

yes my aunt and uncle actually moved to australia with my mom and their family. why they dont just come to the united states instead, i dont really know. i think it might be a climate thing

Answer 17

Yes, there is a large Croat population in Australia (since 1850's) .The 2006 census presents 50,995 persons reporting their country of birth as Croatia.

No direct/special planning involoving Croatia It occurred more "Organically"

Answer 18

Croatians were told there aren't any Albanians there, so they started flocking to Australia.  Why they don't like Albanians I have no idea.