Polish Australian
Encyclopedia
Poland has been a source country of immigrants to Australia
, in particular in the post-war period. Immigration from Poland has long tapered off, with Polish Australian population now part of the mainstream Australian community.
. Cities with the largest Polish populations were Melbourne (16,439), Sydney (12,514), Adelaide (5,859) and Perth (5,142).
The Polish-born Australian resident population predominantly were Australian citizens (90.3%), Christian (82.4%) and used Polish at home (70.0%). Around 78% arrived in Australia before 1990 .
In addition, in 2006 163,802 Australian residents declared they had Polish ancestry, either alone or in combination with one other ancestry.
A significant group of Polish-Australian residents may be today the expatriate community of Polish descent from many countries, like the United States, Canada
, France
, and Great Britain, where numbers of members of the Polonia
are counted in millions or hundreds of thousands. A well known example of this is kind of Polish Australian is the Nobel Prize-winning writer J.M. Coetzee, a South Africa
n with partially Polish origins who has recently immigrated and settled in Australia.
, who was sent there as a convict from Great Britain
in 1803. The first settlers from Poland arrived in South Australia
in 1856 and settled in the Clare Valley
region in a place later called Polish Hill River. The first mass migration happened in the late 1940s when large groups of displaced person
s who could not return to a free Poland migrated to Australia after World War II
, including soldiers from the Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade ("rats of Tobruk"). Between 1947 and 1954, the Poland-born population increased from 6,573 to 56,594 people.
In the early 1980s there was further Polish migration to Australia. The emergence of the Solidarity trade union movement and the declaration of martial law in Poland at the end of 1981 coincided with a further relaxation of Polish emigration laws. During the period 1980-91 Australia granted permanent entry to a large number of Polish migrants, many arriving as refugees who soon got a reputation for being hard working. In 1991, an independent, voluntary organisation was established to inform the Australian public about issues related to Polish history, politics, society and culture. The immediate trigger for establishing The Australian Institute of Polish Affairs
(also known as AIPA) was strong public interest in the historic changes that swept Central Europe in 1989 and led to the collapse of communism.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in particular in the post-war period. Immigration from Poland has long tapered off, with Polish Australian population now part of the mainstream Australian community.
Demography
In 2006 52,254 Australian residents declared they were born in PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Cities with the largest Polish populations were Melbourne (16,439), Sydney (12,514), Adelaide (5,859) and Perth (5,142).
The Polish-born Australian resident population predominantly were Australian citizens (90.3%), Christian (82.4%) and used Polish at home (70.0%). Around 78% arrived in Australia before 1990 .
In addition, in 2006 163,802 Australian residents declared they had Polish ancestry, either alone or in combination with one other ancestry.
A significant group of Polish-Australian residents may be today the expatriate community of Polish descent from many countries, like the United States, Canada
Polish Canadians
Polish Canadians are Citizens of Canada with Polish ancestry, and Poles who immigrated to Canada from abroad. According to the 2001 census by Statistics Canada, 984,585 Canadians claim full or partial Polish ancestry.-History:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Great Britain, where numbers of members of the Polonia
Polonia
The Polish diaspora refers to people of Polish origin who live outside Poland. The Polish diaspora is also known in modern Polish language as Polonia, which is the name for Poland in Latin and in many other Romance languages....
are counted in millions or hundreds of thousands. A well known example of this is kind of Polish Australian is the Nobel Prize-winning writer J.M. Coetzee, a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n with partially Polish origins who has recently immigrated and settled in Australia.
History
The first Pole known to have arrived in Australia was Joseph PotaskiJoseph Potaski
Joseph Potaski was the first Jewish Pole to arrive in Australia, and one of the first convicts to arrive in Van Diemen's Land on the Ocean. Joseph Potaski worked hard to establish himself as a successful farmer in colonial Hobart. This was however undone by the exploits of his family...
, who was sent there as a convict from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in 1803. The first settlers from Poland arrived in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in 1856 and settled in the Clare Valley
Clare Valley
The Clare Valley is one of Australia's oldest wine regions, best known for Riesling wines. It lies in the Mid North of South Australia, approximately 120 km north of Adelaide. The valley runs north-south, with Main North Road as the main thoroughfare....
region in a place later called Polish Hill River. The first mass migration happened in the late 1940s when large groups of displaced person
Displaced person
A displaced person is a person who has been forced to leave his or her native place, a phenomenon known as forced migration.- Origin of term :...
s who could not return to a free Poland migrated to Australia after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, including soldiers from the Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade ("rats of Tobruk"). Between 1947 and 1954, the Poland-born population increased from 6,573 to 56,594 people.
In the early 1980s there was further Polish migration to Australia. The emergence of the Solidarity trade union movement and the declaration of martial law in Poland at the end of 1981 coincided with a further relaxation of Polish emigration laws. During the period 1980-91 Australia granted permanent entry to a large number of Polish migrants, many arriving as refugees who soon got a reputation for being hard working. In 1991, an independent, voluntary organisation was established to inform the Australian public about issues related to Polish history, politics, society and culture. The immediate trigger for establishing The Australian Institute of Polish Affairs
Australian Institute of Polish Affairs
Australian Institute of Polish Affairs also known as AIPA, is an independent, non-political voluntary organisation, established in 1991 in Australia to inform the Australian public about issues related to Polish history, politics, society and culture...
(also known as AIPA) was strong public interest in the historic changes that swept Central Europe in 1989 and led to the collapse of communism.
Entertainers
- Matthew DyktynskiMatthew DyktynskiMatthew Dyktynski is an Australian actor and comedian, graduating from Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1992.Dyktinski has played lead roles on television series Shock Jock and Raw FM, and has appeared on The Man from Snowy River, Stingers, Blue Heelers, Water Rats, Halifax f.p.,...
(actor) - Marzena GodeckiMarzena GodeckiMarzena Godecki is a Polish-born Australian actress. She is best known for her starring role as Neri in Ocean Girl.-Early life:...
(actress) - Natalie GruzlewskiNatalie GruzlewskiNatalie Gruzlewski is an Australian television presenter & model.-Career:She began her TV career on the Gold Coast as host of Prime Television's Surf TV, a beach and surf conditions program....
(presenter of GetawayGetawayGetaway is Australia's longest-running and most popular holiday and travel television programme. Debuting on 14 May 1992, it is currently broadcast on the Nine Network and TLC...
and The Farmer Wants A Wife) - David HelfgottDavid HelfgottDavid Helfgott is an Australian concert pianist. He is as well known for having schizoaffective disorder as he is for his piano playing. Helfgott's life inspired the Oscar-winning film Shine, in which he was played by Geoffrey Rush....
(pianist, as portrayed in the film ShineShine (film)Shine is a 1996 Australian film based on the life of pianist David Helfgott, who suffered a mental breakdown and spent years in institutions. It stars Geoffrey Rush, Lynn Redgrave, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Noah Taylor, John Gielgud, Googie Withers, Justin Braine, Sonia Todd, Nicholas Bell, Chris...
) - Karl KruszelnickiKarl KruszelnickiKarl Kruszelnicki AM is a scientist, who is best known as an author and science commentator on Australian radio and television. He is often referred to as Dr Karl....
(scientist/entertainer) - Nina LandisNina LandisNina Landis is a leading Australian stage and screen actress, who trained in Australia and New York. Her feature film credits include the title role in Rikky and Pete, Komodo, Four of a Kind, Handle with Care, and Blackjack: Sweet Science...
(actress) - Guido LorraineGuido LorraineGuido Lorraine was a Polish-born actor, musician and singer, known primarily for his roles in war films. He was also sometimes known by the stage name Guy Borucki. Lorraine appeared in twenty-eight films during his career, as well as many theater productions.Lorraine was born Gwidon Borucki in...
(actor) - Phil RuddPhil RuddPhillip Hugh Norman Rudd is an Australian drummer. He is best known for his membership of rock band AC/DC from 1975 until 1983, and again from 1994 to present. After the 1977 departure of bass guitarist Mark Evans, he became the only Australian-born member of the band...
(drummer) of AC/DCAC/DCAC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"... - Yvonne StrahovskiYvonne StrahovskiYvonne Strahovski is an Australian actress. Born in Australia to Polish immigrant parents, Strahovski speaks Polish and English...
(actress) - Magda SzubanskiMagda SzubanskiMagda Szubanski is a British-born Australian actress, comedian, television presenter, radio host and author.Szubanski's career began while she was studying at university and she progressed to television sketch comedy, as both a writer and performer...
(comedian) - Keith UrbanKeith UrbanKeith Lionel Urban is a New Zealand-born Australian, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. Urban was born in New Zealand and began his career in Australia at an early age...
(singer/songwriter) - Mia WasikowskaMia WasikowskaMia Wasikowska is an Australian actress. After starting her career in Australian television and film, she first became known to a wider audience following her critically acclaimed work on the HBO television series In Treatment...
(actress) - Viva BiancaViva BiancaViva Bianca is an Australian actress best known for her role as Ilithyia on the Starz network series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Bianca graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts where she received a best actress award...
(actress)
Sport
- Mark WebberMark WebberMark Alan Webber is an Australian Formula One driver.After some racing success in Australia, Webber moved to the United Kingdom in 1995 to further his motorsport career...
(Race Driver (Formula 1)) - Alicia MolikAlicia MolikAlicia Molik is a Australian professional female tennis player. She reached a career high singles rank of number 8 and also won a bronze medal for Australia at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Molik also reached a career high doubles ranking of number 6, and won two grand slam doubles titles, at the...
(tennis) - Samantha StosurSamantha StosurSamantha "Sam" Jane Stosur is an Australian professional tennis player. She won the 2011 US Open singles title and was a finalist at the 2010 French Open. Stosur is ranked World No. 6 and her career high in singles is World No. 4, achieved on 21 February 2011. She is a former world No...
(tennis) - Peter LuczakPeter LuczakPeter Luczak is a professional tennis player for Australia. His career-high ATP Entry ranking was No. 64 on 12 October 2009.At the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, Luczak won the gold in the doubles....
(tennis) - Paul SlowinskiPaul SlowinskiPaul "The Sting" Slowinski is a Polish-Australian kickboxer, a four-time WMC Muay Thai World champion and two-time K-1 World GP 2006 in Auckland and K-1 World GP 2007 in Amsterdam champion...
(kickboxing) - Jim KrakouerJim KrakouerJames Gordon "Jim" Krakouer was an Australian rules footballer in the 1980s for North Melbourne and St Kilda in the VFL and Claremont in the WAFL...
and son Andrew J. KrakouerAndrew J. KrakouerAndrew James Krakouer is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League . He previously played for the Richmond Football Club in the AFL and played for Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League .-Early life:Krakouer is the son...
(Australian rules football) - David WojcinskiDavid WojcinskiDavid "Wojo" Wojcinski is an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Career:Wojcinski made his debut in 1998. He won the club's Most Improved Player award for 2004....
(Australian rules football) - James WesolowskiJames WesolowskiJames Peter Wesolowski is an Australian football player who plays as a midfielder for Oldham Athletic. He plays in Europe with a Polish passport, having dual nationality...
(Football (soccer)) - David SierakowskiDavid SierakowskiDavid Sierakowski is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.He was recruited to the Saints in the 1992 AFL Draft under the father-son rule. He spent the whole of 1993 season in the reserves developing his game and settling into Melbourne life with relatives...
(Australian rules football) - Brian SierakowskiBrian SierakowskiBrian Cosmas Sierakowski is a lawyer and former Australian rules footballer.He played as a ruckman and defender for the St Kilda Football Club playing 75 games and kicking two goals from 1964-68. He played in the 1966 premiership side and was named as one of the best players in the Grand Final...
(Australian rules football) - Clinton SchifcofskeClinton SchifcofskeClinton Schifcofske is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Crusaders in the European Super League. He has previously played for Irish rugby union club Ulster in the Magners League competition and also he spent a year with Queensland Reds in the Super 14...
(rugby league) - Jason KrejzaJason KrejzaJason John Krejza is an Australian cricketer. He also plays for the Tasmanian Tigers and Leicestershire. Krejza's father was a association football player from Czechoslovakia and his mother was born in Poland...
(cricket) - John KosminaJohn KosminaAlexander John Kosmina , known as John Kosmina, is a former Australian football player and manager of Polish Australian ethnicity. He was most recently the manager of Sydney FC...
(Football (soccer)) - David TarkaDavid TarkaDavid Tarka is an Australian football player. He plays as a central defender for WA state league club Cockburn City.-Club career:...
(Football (soccer)) - Stuart MusialikStuart MusialikStuart Musialik is an Australian football player who currently plays for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League.- Club career :...
(Football (soccer)) - Daniel PiorkowskiDaniel PiorkowskiDaniel Piorkowski is an Australian football player of Polish descent who is currently without a club.-Melbourne Knights:...
(Football (soccer)) - Olivia RogowskaOlivia RogowskaOlivia Rogowska is an Australian tennis player. The right-hander was born in and lives in Melbourne, Australia. Her highest WTA singles ranking is 138, which she reached on 7 December 2009. Her career high in doubles is 170, which she reached on 20 September 2010...
(Tennis) - Michael KlimMichael KlimMichael Klim OAM is a Polish-born Australian swimmer. He was born in Gdynia. He was educated at the University High School, Melbourne and Wesley College, Melbourne where he is currently employed as the College's elite Head Coach of swimming...
(swimming) - Daniel KowalskiDaniel KowalskiDaniel Steven Kowalski is a former Australian middle- and long-distance swimmer specialising in freestyle events. He competed in the Olympic Games in 200 m, 400 m and 1,500 m individual freestyle events and in the 4x200 m freestyle relay...
(swimming) - Nikolai Topor-StanleyNikolai Topor-StanleyNikolai Topor-Stanley is an Australian professional football player who currently plays as a defender for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League.-Club career:...
(Football (soccer))
Academia
- Anna WierzbickaAnna WierzbickaAnna Wierzbicka is a linguist at the Australian National University. She also lectures at Warsaw University and Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland. She studied at Warsaw University. From 1972 she moved from Poland to Australia.Wierzbicka is famous for her work in semantics,...
(linguistics) - Jerzy ZubrzyckiJerzy ZubrzyckiProf. Jerzy B. Zubrzycki AO CBE was a Polish-born Australian sociologist, widely regarded as the "Father of Australian Multiculturalism". He was a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.-External links:*...
(sociology) - Jerzy SmoliczJerzy SmoliczProf. Jerzy Jarosław Smolicz AM was Polish-born sociologist and educationalist acknowledged widely as a major contributor to cultural understanding in Australia....
(sociology) - Henry MillicerHenry MillicerHenry K. Millicer, born Henryk Kazimierz Milicer , was a Polish-Australian aircraft designer and pilot....
(aeronautical engineering)
Other
- J.M. Coetzee (South African-Australian writer with Polish roots, 2003 Nobel Prize in LiteratureNobel Prize in LiteratureSince 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...
winner) - Paul Strzelecki (explorer who named Mount KosciuszkoMount KosciuszkoMount Kosciuszko is a mountain located in the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park. With a height of 2,228 metres above sea level, it is the highest mountain in Australia...
) - Andrew ZiolkowskiAndrew ZiolkowskiAndrew Charles Frederick Ziolkowski was an Australian politician. He served as an Australian Labor Party Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1991 until his death in 1994, representing the electoral district of Parramatta...
(NSW politician) - Martin PakulaMartin PakulaMartin Philip Pakula is an Australian politician, and a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. He was Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Public Transport in the Labor Government of Premier John Brumby.-Early life:...
(VIC politician)
External links
- An article on the use of the Polish language by Polish Australians, specifically those in Melbourne:
- Fitzgerald, M. and Debski, R. (2006). Internet Use of Polish by Polish Melburnians: Implications for Maintenance and Teaching. Language Learning and Technology, 10(1), 87-109. Retrieved 10 August 2006 from http://llt.msu.edu/vol10num1/fitzdebski/default.html .