Serbian Australian

Serbian Australians

Notable Serbian Australians: B. Wongar · Jelena Dokić Holly Valance · Karl Stefanovic
Total population
Serbs 95,364 by Ancestry 17,328 born in Serbia
Regions with significant populations
Sydney, Melbourne, Perth
Languages
Australian English, Serbian
Religion
Serbian Orthodox

Serbian Australians are citizens of Australia who are of Serbian ancestry. According to the 2006 census, there are 95,364 people in Australia who are of Serbian ancestry. Serbs have migrated to Australia in various waves during the 20th century. The top 3 cities with the largest Serbian-Australian populations in 2001 are:

1. Sydney
2. Melbourne
3. Perth

History

Unique underground Serbian Orthodox Church in Coober Pedy

Victoria

In the 1901 census, four men were registered as immigrants in Victoria from Serbia.

A wave of immigrants came during and after the World War II, fleeing the Axis and Ustasha occupation. Serbs were a large part of the immigrant community between 1948–55 and most of them opposed the communist regime then in place (Josip Broz Tito). In 1954 there were 6,118 Yugoslav immigrants in Victoria. Worsening economy in Yugoslavia in the 60s and 70s prompted another wave. Many of those who settled in Victoria had worked in Western Europe (i.e. Germany) prior to coming. The 1961-1971 numbers increase to 49,755 people. After the Yugoslav Wars that broke the federal state of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) succeeded as a federal union. In 1996 the Serbian and Montenegrin immigrants are counted separately and Serbs numbered 4,133 living in Victoria. The 2001 census recorded 19,643 people born in Serbia and Montenegro.

Notable Serbian Australians

See also: :Category:Australian people of Serbian descent

• Frank Arok - Former soccer player and manager.
• Milan Blagojevic - Australian national team soccer player.
• Pedj Bojic - Soccer player.
• Bobby Despotovski - Australian national team soccer player.
• Jelena Dokić - Tennis player.
• Ivan Ergić - Serbian national team soccer players.
• Vedrana Grbovic - Model.
• Milan Ivanović - Australian national team soccer player.
• Marko Jesic - Soccer player.
• Robert Jovicic - Immigration case.
• Sam Kekovich - Media personality and sports commentator.
• Aleks Marić - Australian national team basketball player.
• Steven Marković - Basketball player.
• Zdravko Micevic - Boxer.
• Jim Milisavljevic - Soccer player.
• Danny Milosevic - Soccer player.
• Dragan Durdevic - Rugby League player.
• Nik Mrdja - Australian national team soccer player.
• Nick Petrovic - Psychologist and researcher.
• Ralé Rašić - Order of Australia awarded media personality and former soccer player and Australia national team manager and administrator.
• Dirty South - DJ, remixer and record producer.
• Karl Stefanovic - TV presenter.
• Vuko Tomasevic - Soccer player.
• Holly Valance - Singer, actress and model.
• Dragan Vasiljković - Best known as the founder and Captain of the Serbian paramilitary unit Knindže, but he was also worldwide weapons instructor, businessman and golf instructor.
• Lazar Vidovic - Former Australian rules footballer.
• Nick Vujicic - Accounting and Financial Planning graduate best known as preacher and motivational speaker.
• Danny Vukovic - Soccer player.
• Sreten Božić aka B. Wongar - Writer, author.
• Ursula Yovich - Actress and singer.
• Lew Zivanovic - Rugby league player.
• Valentina Novakovic - actress

See also

• Australian-Serbian relations

External links

• Ancestry by Birthplace - Results of 2001 Australian census