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French Australians

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French Australians
Franco-Australien
Regions with significant populations
France-born people by state or territory
New South Wales8,936
Victoria5,615
Queensland4,980
Western Australia2,792
Languages
Religion
Related ethnic groups

French Australians (French: Franco-Australiens), some of whom refer to themselves as Huguenots, are Australian citizens or residents of French ancestry, or French-born people who reside in Australia. According to the 2011 Census, there were 110,399 people of French descent in Australia and 24,675 French-born people residing in the country at the time of the census, representing an increase of 28.6 percent compared to the 2006 Census. The largest French Australian community is in the state of New South Wales, where they number 8,936 people–a large number of these people reside in Sydney.

Demography

People with French ancestry as a percentage of the population in Sydney divided geographically by postal area, as of the 2011 census.

According to the 2006 Australian census, 98,332 Australians (or 0.47% of the population) claim French ancestry, either alone or with another ancestry.[2] Of these, 19,186 were born in France[3] and 12,735 of them had since acquired Australian citizenship.[4]

8,281 (or 43%) of the residents born in France had arrived in Australia in 1979 or earlier.[4]

History

Bruni d'Entrecasteaux, Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec, Louis Antoine de Bougainville, Jules Dumont d'Urville, Nicolas Baudin, François Péron and Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne were some of the early European explorers to reach the continent.

Many Australians with French ancestry are descended from Huguenot refugees. Some of the earliest Huguenots to arrive in Australia held prominent positions in English society, notably Jane Franklin and Charles La Trobe.

Others who came later were from poorer Huguenot families. They migrated to Australia from England in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to escape the poverty in the East End of London, notably in the Huguenot enclaves of Spitalfields and Bethnal Green. Their impoverishment had been brought about by the effect of the Industrial Revolution, which caused the collapse of the Huguenot-dominated silk-weaving industry.

The largest post-war increase in French migration to Australia came during the 1960s and 1970s; unlike many other European countries, France did not establish a migration scheme in the immediate post-war period due to chronic underemployment, despite Australia seeing the French as some of the most desirable immigrants to obtain during that era.[5]

Since that time, there has only been a small flow of French immigrants to Australia. Many people in the French-Australian community now originate from French overseas territories, especially New Caledonia.

Culture

Today, the Brisbane French Festival, held over the Bastille Day weekend, is Australia's biggest French festival.[6] Participants include both French-born Australians and Australians of more distant French ancestry.

Alliance Française has an active presence in most Australian cities, teaching the French language, holding cultural events such as Beaujolais Nouveau festivals and sponsoring the nation's annual French film festival.[7] SBS has also done much to increase the popularity of French cinema and culture with Australian audiences, though Hollywood still predominates with mainstream audiences.

Some Australians of French Huguenot descent have completely assimilated into the country's predominantly Anglo-Saxon culture but most still quietly but tenaciously hold on to as many aspects as they can of their French heritage and identify themselves very much as Huguenots, even hundreds of years after being exiled. The Huguenot Society of Australia does much to encourage Australian Huguenots to embrace their cultural heritage and provides genealogical research services.[8]

French cuisine has influenced the nation with French-inspired cafes, restaurants and boulangeries to be found in most major cities.[9] French immigrant chefs, particularly those who appear on television, have done much to promote French cooking and food philosophy, including a growing understanding of the concept of terroir.

The French Benevolent Society has an active presence in the nation, providing a support network for elderly and incapacitated French Australians.[10]

Most of the French-born people in Australia are Roman Catholics and the Reformed Church of France (Église Réformée de France) is yet to establish a presence in the country, despite the vibrant group of Australians of Huguenot descent. However, Taizé-style services are becoming increasingly popular with both Roman Catholics and Protestants from a variety of denominations. Taizé provides one of the key grassroots ecumenical movements in the nation.

Education

French international schools in Australia include:

French Australians

Name Born Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with France
Angry Anderson 1947 Rock singer Born in Australia Franco-Mauritian ancestry
Ted Baillieu 1953 Politician (Premier of Victoria) Born in Australia French-Belgian ancestry
Jason Baitieri 1989 Rugby footballer Lives in Australia Born in France
Richie Benaud 1930 Commentator and former cricketer Born in Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Cate Blanchett 1969 Actress Born in Australia French ancestry
Charles Bonney 1813 Pioneer and politician Emigrated to Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Joseph Bosisto 1827 Chemist and politician Emigrated to Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Richard Boyer 1891 Broadcaster, Chief of the ABC Born in Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Guillaume Brahimi 1967 Chef Lives in Australia Born in France
Louis Buvelot 1814 Artist Emigrated to Australia Swiss-French
Marie Byles 1900 Solicitor and environmentalist Emigrated to Australia from England French Huguenot ancestry
Roy Cazaly 1893 Australian Rules footballer Born in Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Harold Cazneaux 1878 Photographer Emigrated to Australia from New Zealand French Huguenot ancestry
Robert Champion de Crespigny 1950 Entrepreneur Born in Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Charles Chauvel 1897 Filmmaker Born in Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Christabel Chamarette 1948 Senator (Australian Greens) Emigrated to Australia from India French Huguenot ancestry
Greg Combet 1958 Politician Born in Australia French ancestry
Minard Fannie Crommelin 1881 Environmentalist Born in Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Celeste de Chabrillan 1824 Writer, prostitute and wife of Consul Visited Australia 1854–1856 Born in France
Russell Dumas 1887 Engineer Born in Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Casey Dumont 1992 Female footballer Born in Australia French ancestry
Edward Duyker 1955 Historian Born in Australia Franco-Mauritian ancestry
Emilie de Ravin 1981 Actress Born in Australia French ancestry
Freda du Faur 1882 Mountaineer Born in Australia French ancestry
Luke DeVere 1989 Association footballer for Gyeongnam FC Born in Australia French ancestry
Johnny Famechon 1945 Boxer Emigrated to Australia 1950 (about age 5) Born in France
Manu Feildel 1974 Chef and television presenter Lives in Australia Born in France
Margaret Forrest 1844 Wife of Western Australia's first premier Lived in Australia Born in France
Jane Franklin 1791 Pioneer and philanthropist Lived in Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Mark Gasnier 1981 Rugby footballer Lives in Australia French ancestry
Gabriel Gaté 1955 Chef and television presenter Lives in Australia Born in France
Osmond Gilles 1788 Pastoralist, mine owner and colonial treasurer Emigrated to Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Robert Gouger 1802 Founding father of South Australia and colonial secretary Emigrated to Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Stephan Gouws (Gauche) 1960 Entrepreneur & Investor Lives in Australia Born South Africa Huguenot ancestry
Edward Hamersley 1835 Pastoralist and politician Lived in Australia Born in France
Yves Hernot 1950 Art Auctioneer and Patron of the Arts (Prix Yves Hernot) and Business man Lives in Australia French ancestry
T. H. Laby 1880 Scientist Born in Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Allan La Fontaine 1910 Australian rules footballer Emigrated to Australia Born in France
Jenny Lamy 1949 Sprinter Born in Australia French ancestry
Charles La Trobe 1801 First Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria Served in Australia 1839–1854 French Huguenot ancestry
Dorian Le Gallienne 1915 Composer Born in Australia French ancestry
David Le Sage 1979 Writer and anti-war activist Born in Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Heath L'Estrange 1985 Rugby footballer Born in Australia French ancestry
Christian Manon 1950 Actor Lives in Australia Born in France
Sophie Masson 1959 Writer Lives in Australia French ancestry
Jacques Miller 1931 Scientist Lives in Australia French ancestry
Emmanuel Mollois 1969 Chef and television presenter (Poh's Kitchen) Lives in Australia Born in France
Philippe Mouchel Chef Lives in Australia Born in France
William Piguenit 1836 Landscape artist Born in Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Lloyd Rees 1895 Landscape painter Born in Australia Franco-Mauritian ancestry
John Ribot 1955 Rugby footballer Born in Australia French ancestry
David Rivett 1885 Scientist Born in Australia French Huguenot ancestry
Anthelme Thozet 1826 Botanist Emigrated to Australia Born in France
Julia Zemiro 1967 Television presenter and comedian Lives in Australia Born in France

See also

References

  1. ^ Australian Government – Department of Immigration and Border Protection. "French Australians". Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b "20680-Ancestry (full classification list) by Sex – Australia" (Microsoft Excel download). 2006 Census. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  3. ^ a b "20680-Country of Birth of Person (full classification list) by Sex – Australia" (Microsoft Excel download). 2006 Census. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 27 May 2008.
  4. ^ a b "2914.0.55.002 2006 Census Ethnic Media Package" (Excel download). Census Dictionary, 2006 (cat.no 2901.0). Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
  5. ^ Flinders. "French migration to Australia in the post WWII period: Benevolent tolerance and cautious collaboration" (PDF).
  6. ^ Brisbane French Festival. "En collaboration avec l'Alliance Française".
  7. ^ "Alliance Francaise French Film Festival 2016 in Australia". Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  8. ^ The Huguenot Society of Australia. "Welcome to The Huguenot Society of Australia Website". Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  9. ^ French Australia. "Guide for all French products and services like French travel & restaurants". Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  10. ^ http://frenchbenevolent.com/