Armenian Australian

Armenian Australians

Gladys Berejiklian
Total population
15,789 (2006 Census) other estimates: 50,000
Regions with significant populations
Sydney, Ryde, Willoughby, Warringah, Melbourne
Languages
Armenian, Russian and Australian English
Religion
Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic, Evangelical and Protestant
Related ethnic groups
Armenian groups

Armenian Australian are Australians who have ancestry from the country of Armenia. They have become one of the key Armenian diasporas around the world and amongst the largest in the English-speaking world. While the Armenian community in Australia is amongst the youngest of all diasporas, Australia’s economic prosperity over the past decade has attracted a large number of skilled Armenian migrants. The official relationship between Australia and Armenia started on 26 December 1991, and diplomatic relations were established on 15 January 1992.

Brief overview

The influx of Armenians into Australia has come from many different Diaspora countries; these countries include Armenia, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Turkey and India. In the mid-19th century a group of Armenians settled in the south-western region of Victoria which then became the City of Ararat in search of valuable commodities such as gold.

Today the Austral-Armenian community includes members born in up to and over 43 different countries. The estimated Armenian community size is about 50,000 mostly residing in Sydney, with about 8,000 in Melbourne. The main concentration of Armenians in Sydney are in the City of Ryde (12,000 - 15,000) followed by City of Willoughby [1] and City of Warringah. Smaller communities exist in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. Australians of Armenian heritage are well known in Sydney and now hold an annual festival in the CBD each year which attracts over 25,000 visitors and is the second largest cultural festival behind the Greek festival.

Increasingly Australians of Armenian heritage are being recognized for their success in Politics, Banking & Finance and Law. Armenians of Australia are exceptionally well regarded and recognized in the Jewelry industry and many avenues of trade.

Below are some of the operating organisations within the Armenian Australian community:

• Armenian General Benevolent Union
• SBS Armenian Radio
• Armenian Chamber of Commerce in Australia
• Social Democratic Hunchakian Party
• Homenetmen Australia
• Hye Hoki
• Armenian Revolutionary Federation
• Armenian Youth Federation of Australia
• Hamazkayin Regional Committee breaking down into sub-divisions/committees.
• Armenian National Committee of Australia

Cultural centers

In Sydney there are several main cultural centers to which Armenians gather, one located in Willoughby, New South Wales named the Armenian Cultural Centre and another located in Bonnyrigg, New South Wales named the Armenian Cultural Panoyan Centre, and smaller Cultural Centres in Neutral Bay, City of Ryde, Frenchs Forest (Ararat Reserve) and Naremburn, Sydney. Melbourne also has several cultural centres.

Education

Armenian is an accepted language in the NSW HSC also known as Armenian Continuers the course is taught at Saturday schools or as a subject at full time Armenian schools.

Armenian Schooling has become stronger throughout the Australian community with 3 fulltime schools operating in sydney, these are:

• Hamazkaine Arshak & Sophie Galstauan School
• St Gregory's Armenian School
• A.G.B.U. Alexander Primary School

Alongside which a number of Saturday schools operate as listed below:

• Toumanian Armenian Saturday School
• A.G.B.U. Alexander Primary School
• Tarkmanchatch Armenian Saturday School
• Serop Papazian Armenian Saturday School
• Looyce Armenian Catholic School

Religion

The oldest and largest Armenian church in Australia and throughout the world is the Armenian Apostolic Church, which in Australia is led by Archbishop Aghan Baliozian who is the Primate of the Australian and New Zealand Armenian Apostolic churches. Catholicism, led by Father Parsegh (Basil) Sousanian, and the Armenian Evangelical Church, also have their presence in Sydney and Melbourne. There are also the Holy Trinity Armenian Brotherhood Church and the Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church, both in Sydney.

• The Armenian Apostolic Church is located in Chatswood, New South Wales.
• The Armenian Catholic Church is located in Lidcombe, New South Wales.
• The Armenian Evangelical Church can located in Willoughby, New South Wales.
• The Armenian Brotherhood Holy Trinity Church is located in Ryde, New South Wales.
• The Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church is located in Northbridge, New South Wales.

Notable Armenian Australians

The Australian Armenian community has produced many notable figures who have become key members who shape the identity of Armenians in Australia. Below are a few of these members.

• Gladys Berejiklian- Member of NSW Parliament, Minister for Transport, Minister for Citizenship.
• Vic Darchinyan - IBO Super flyweight world title holder
• George Donikian - Network Ten news presenter
• Brian Goorjian - Regarded as Australia's most successful basketball coach
• Slava Grigoryan - classical guitarist, two time ARIA winner
• Joe Hockey (Family Name "Hokeidonian") - Member of Federal Parliament Shadow Treasurer
• Yurik Sarkisian - Two time World Champion Weightlifter, set 17 world records during his career

External links

• http://www.agbu.org.au
• http://www.anc.org.au
• http://www.armenianchamber.com.au
• http://www.armenian.org.au/
• http://www.homenetmen.com.au/
• http://www.ararat.org.au/
• http://www.nareg.com.au/stg