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Lebanese Australians

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Lebanese Australians
Total population
  • 230,880 (ancestry)[1]
  • 78,650 (Lebanese-born)
Regions with significant populations
Sydney (72% of Lebanese-born Australian residents) and Melbourne
Languages
Australian English, Lebanese Arabic, Standard Arabic, French, Armenian
Religion
Majority: Christian: Maronite Catholic, Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Protestant Minority: Islam: Shia Islam, Sunni Islam, Alawite (37%),[2] Jewish and Druze (8%) No Religion, Atheism Agnosticism, Deist
Related ethnic groups
Lebanese British, Lebanese Americans, Lebanese Canadians
Part of a series of articles on
Lebanese people
Emblem of Lebanon
(Lebanese cedar)
Lebanese people
Communities
Native communities outside of Lebanon:

Lebanese diaspora:

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Lebanese Australians refers to citizens or permanent residents of Australia of Lebanese ancestry. The community is diverse, having a large Christian religious base, being mostly Maronite Catholics and Greek Orthodox, while also having a large Muslim group of both the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam, which also includes a large Non Religious minority.

Lebanon, in both its modern-day form as the Lebanese state (declared in 1920, granted independence in 1943) and its historical form as the region of the Lebanon, has been a source of migrants to Australia for over two centuries. Some 203,139 Australians claim Lebanese ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry. According to 2011 estimates, 76,459 Lebanese-born people in Australia, with 72% of all people with Lebanese ancestry living in Sydney,

In New South Wales, the Western Sydney suburbs of Bankstown, Lakemba, Auburn, Granville, Parramatta, Punchbowl, Greenacre, Merrylands, Liverpool, Arncliffe and Bexley. As in Victoria are the Northern Melbourne suburbs of Broadmeadows, Coburg, Brunswick, Fawkner and Altona.

Community history

As part of a large scale emigration in the 1970s, numerous Lebanese migrated in great numbers out of Lebanon to various destinations. Most emigrated to The United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina and other Latin American nations, particularly Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. Many also went to the United States, Canada, and others to Australia, primarily to the eastern states, and most to New South Wales in particular.[3][4]

Thus, Australia's Lebanese population is one of the older established non-English speaking minorities in the country (though many Lebanese people now speak English, to a greater or lesser extent).

In the 1890s, there were increasing numbers of Lebanese immigrants to Australia, part of the mass emigration from the area of the Lebanon that would become the modern Lebanese state, and also from the Anti-Lebanon mountains region of what would become Syria.[5]

Under the White Australia policy of the nineteenth century (and with Lebanon being located in the Middle East, geographically known as South West Asia) Lebanese migrants were classified as Asians and came within the scope of the White Australia policy which intentionally restricted non-white immigration to Australia. Lebanese migrants, like others deemed non-white by Australian law, were excluded from citizenship, the right to vote and employment, and were treated as enemy aliens during World War I and World War II.[3] In 1897 Lebanese store keepers and businesses were accused of fraud by state border Customs officers during Queensland customs prosecution cases.[5]

Prior to 1918, Lebanese migrants to Australia were not habitually distinguished from Turks because the area of modern Lebanon was a province of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Administration then passed to the French Mandate for several decades, which ruled it together with what would become Syria, its neighbour. Hence, for that period, the Lebanese were not distinguished from Syrians.[6]

People with Lebanese ancestry as a percentage of the population in Sydney divided geographically by postal area, as of the 2011 census
One dot denotes 100 Lebanese-born Melbourne residents

From 1920, people from Lebanon (and Syria) were granted access to Australian citizenship as the Nationality Act 1920 removed the racial disqualification from the naturalisation laws.[5]

By 1947, there were 2000 Lebanese-born in Australia,[7] almost all Christian. The Lebanese born population numbered 5000 in 1971. Following the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975-1990, This wave of migrants were often poor and for the first time, over half of them were Muslim.[7] This influx of new migrants changed the character of the established Lebanese community in Australia significantly, especially in Sydney where 70% of the Lebanese-born population were concentrated.[7]

Christian Maronite and Orthodox Lebanese Christians that settled in Australia over the last two centuries were able to gain some influence within Australian politics. In late 1975, unrest in Lebanon caused a group of influential Maronite Australians to approach Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and his immigration minister, Michael MacKellar regarding the resettling of Lebanese civilians with their Australian relatives. Immediate access to Australia could not be granted under normal immigration categories, thus the Lebanese people were categorised as refugees. This was not in the traditional sense as the Lebanese people were not fleeing from persecution but escaping from internal conflict between Muslim and Christian groups. This action was known as the "Lebanon Concession".[8]

Between 1975-1990, more than 30,000 civil war refugees arrived in Australia.[7] Most immigrants were Muslim Lebanese from deprived rural areas who learned of Australia's Lebanon Concession and decided to seek a better life. They were Sunnis from northern Lebanon and Shias from southern Lebanon as Christian and Muslim Lebanese were unwilling to leave the capital city, Beirut. Immigrants of the Lebanese Concession primarily settled in south-west Sydney; Sunnis in Lakemba and Shias in Arncliffe.[8]

Lebanese in Sydney have followed a distinctive occupational pattern characterised by high levels of self-employment, particularly in petty commercial activities such as hawking and shopkeeping. In 1901, '80 per cent of Lebanese in NSW were concentrated in commercial occupations' – in 1947, little had changed, as 60 per cent of Lebanese were 'either employers or self-employed'. Even in the 1991 census, Lebanese men and women were 'noticeably over-represented as self-employed'. [21] The Lebanese in Melbourne have opened restaurants and groceries and Middle Eastern shops and Lebanese bars on Sydney Road which is sometimes called "Little Lebanon".[9]

Following the trials for a series of gang rape attacks in Sydney in 2000 by a group of Lebanese Muslims, the Lebanese Muslim Australian community came under significant scrutiny by the media in addition to a more general anti-Muslim backlash after the September 11 attacks in 2001.[10] Community concern and divisiveness continued in the wake of the 2005 Cronulla riots in Sydney.[11] In 2014, a series of documentaries on Lebanese Australians was presented by SBS under the title Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl.[12]

In November 2016, Immigration Minister, Peter Dutton said that it was a mistake of a previous Liberal administration to have brought out Lebanese Muslim immigrants.[13][14] Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop said Mr Dutton was making a specific point about those charged with terrorism offences. "He made it quite clear that he respects and appreciates the contribution that the Lebanese community make in Australia".[15]

Key events and organisations

There are now many Lebanese-Australian business groups, businesses and events aimed primarily at engaging the large Lebanese community in Australia and strengthening ties between Australia and Lebanon.

The peak business body is the Australian Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, with associations in both Sydney and Melbourne.

A Lebanese Film Festival has been launched in Sydney for 2012. This will showcase Lebanese arts and culture through film and becomes the premier showcase of Lebanese cinema outside Lebanon.[16]

Religious diversity

Most Lebanese people today live outside Lebanon and the prolonged emigration of Lebanese Christians for the last two centuries (leading to their depletion in Lebanon itself), today, an estimated 54% of Lebanese in Lebanon are Muslim (having become the majority in the last three decades). Of the Lebanese outside Lebanon, known also as the Lebanese diaspora which numbers from 8[17] to possibly 14 million,[18] the vast majority are Christian (between 70%-80%).[citation needed]

In Australia, 55% of Lebanese people are Christian, while a large minority (37%) are Muslim.[2]

All main Lebanese religious groups — Christians, including Maronites, Melkites, Greek Orthodox, Protestants, Muslims, including Shia, Sunnis and Druze are now represented.[19]

According to the 2016 census, 48.81% of Australians with Lebanese ancestry are Christians, 39.88% are Muslims, and 26.46% follow secular or no religious beliefs.[20]

Return migration

Lebanese Australians have a moderate rate of return migration to Lebanon. In December 2001, the Department of Foreign Affairs estimated that there were 30,000 Australian citizen residents in Lebanon.[21]

During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, the Australian Government organised mass evacuations of Australians resident in Lebanon.[22]

Notable Lebanese Australians

Name Born – Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with Lebanon
Faddy Zouky 1968 The Honorary Lebanese Consul General to Tasmania, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, Executive Director of Zouki Group and President of ALCCI migrated to Australia born in Lebanon
Houssam Abiad 1976 Entrepreneur and Deputy Lord Mayor City of Adelaide born in Australia parents born Lebanon
Matthew Abood 1986 freestyle swimmer Born in Australia Lebanese descent
Anthony Alexander Alam 1896–1983 member of the New South Wales Legislative Council born in Australia parents born Lebanon
Kim Antonios Hayes 1958 Actor, Vocalist Born in Australia Lebanese Descent
Zita Antonios 1955 Federal Race Discrimination Commissioner Born in Australia Lebanese Descent
Sheik Ali 1927 Heavyweight champion wrestler migrated to Australia in 1951 Born in Sebhel, Lebanon.
Joseph Assaf 1945 Multicultural Businessman has Australian Citizenship born in Lebanon
Mireille Astore[23] 1961 Artist and writer emigrated to Australia born in Lebanon
George Ayoub 1963 Test match rugby referee, member of the Super Rugby panel for Television Match Officials Born in Sydney, Australia Lebanese descent
Alex Chidiac 1999 Professional women's soccer player for Melbourne City and the Matilda's Born in Australia Lebanese descent
David Basheer 1966 Sports Presenter and Commentator born Australia Mother born in Lebanon
Max Basheer 1927 Former administrator with the South Australian National Football League born in Australia parents born Lebanon
David Bayssari 1970 Former Balmain Tigers NRL Player & Lebanon Rugby League Head Coach Born in Australia Parents born in Lebanon
Marie Bashir 1930 Governor of New South Wales born in Australia parents born in Lebanon
Steve Bracks 1954 Former Premier of Victoria born in Australia paternal grandfather born in Lebanon
Michael Cheika 1967 Head coach of the Wallabies and the New South Wales Waratahs born in Australia Parents born in Lebanon
Samier Dandan President of Lebanese Muslim Association born in Australia of Lebanese descent
Firass Dirani[24] 1984 Actor born in Australia of Lebanese descent
Sam Doumany[25] 1937 Former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice in Queensland
Khalil Eideh 1954 CEO of Bluestar Logistics and member of the Victorian Legislative Council born in Lebanon (Tripoli)
Hazem El Masri 1976 Canterbury Bulldogs Rugby league player migrated to Australia as child born Lebanon
Nazih Elasmar 1954 member of the Victorian Legislative Council migrated to Australia born Lebanon
Benny Elias 1963 Former National Rugby League player migrated to Australia as a child born Lebanon
Joe Reaiche 1958 Former National Rugby League Sydney Roosters player born in Australia Lebanese descent
Ahmad Elrich 1981 International soccer player born in Australia Lebanese descent
Tarek Elrich 1987 Newcastle United Jets soccer player born Australia Lebanese descent
Ahmed Fahour 1966 Banker, former CEO of Citibank, former CEO of NAB's operations, and current CEO of Australia Post Born in Australia Lebanese descent
Robbie Farah 1984 South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby league player born in Australia father emigrated from Lebanon c. 1960
Buddy Farah 1978 FIFA agent - Ex soccer player born in Australia of Lebanese descent
Faydee 1987 Pop / R&B singer, songwriter born in Australia of Lebanese descent
Joe Hachem 1966 2005 World Series of Poker champion migrated to Australia as child born in Lebanon
Milham "Mil" Hanna 1966 former Australian rules footballer with Carlton grew up in Australia born Lebanon
Joe Hasham 1948 actor emigrated to Australia as infant born in Lebanon
Bachar Houli 1988 Australian Rules Football player born in Australia parents born in Lebanon
Sabrina Houssami 1986 2006 Australian representative at Miss World born in Australia Lebanese father
Tamara Jaber[26] 1982 Singer born in Australia Lebanese father
Jessica Kahawaty 1988 Beauty pageant contestant who came third in Miss World 2012 when representing Australia born in Australia Lebanese descent
Bob Katter, Sr. 1918–1990 member for Federal Division of Kennedy 1966-1990 born in Australia Lebanese descent
Bob Katter 1945 member for Federal Division of Kennedy 1993 born Australia Lebanese descent, son of Katter, Sr.
Safwan Khalil 1986 Olympic champion in taekwando emigrated to Australia as an infant Parents from Lebanon
Paul Khoury 1993 TV personality and voice talent Born in Australia Lebanese descent
Tim Mannah 1988 Parramatta Eels Rugby League player born in Australia Lebanese descent
Josh Mansour 1990 Penrith Panthers Rugby League player born in Australia Lebanese descent
David Malouf 1934 writer born in Australia father Lebanese
Daryl Melham 1954 member of the Australian House of Representatives born in Australia father migrated from Lebanon
Cesar Melhem 1965 Victorian state secretary of Australian Workers' Union migrated to Australia born in Lebanon
Andrew Nabbout 1998 soccer player for Melbourne Victory Grandparents from Lebanon & offered a spot in the Lebanon national football team
Fehmi Naji 1928 Grand Mufti of Australia born in Lebanon
Paul Nakad 1975 actor and hip hop artist born in Australia Lebanese descent
Brendan Nasser 1964 Test Match rugby player, member of the winning Australian squad at the 1991 Rugby World Cup Born in Australia Lebanese descent
Jacques Nasser 1947 Former CEO of Ford Motors raised in Australia born Lebanon
Eddie Obeid 1943 Corrupt former Member of the NSW Legislative Council, former Minister for Fisheries and Mineral Resources working in Australia born Matrit (also spelt Metrit) Bsharri District
Barbara Perry, née Abood 1964 NSW parliamentarian born in Australia parents born Lebanon
Roger Rasheed 1969 international tennis coach and former player born in Australia father migrated from Lebanon
Daniella Rahme 1990 TV host, actress and model Born in Australia Lebanese descent
Michael Reda 1972 International soccer player born in Australia Lebanese descent
Travis Robinson 1987 International rugby league football player born in Australia Lebanese descent
Reece Robinson 1987 International rugby league football player born in Australia Lebanese descent
Joseph Saba 1940 Fashion designer born in Australia Lebanese descent
Natalie Saleeba 1978 Television actress Born in Australia Lebanese descent
Sir Nicholas Shehadie 1926 Lord Mayor of Sydney (1973–1975) and member of Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame born in Australia of Lebanese descent
John Symond 1947 Founder and Managing Director of Aussie Group born in Australia parents born Lebanon
Keysar Trad 1967 Muslim community spokesman migrated to Australia born in Lebanon
Salim Wardeh 1968 Minister of Culture in Lebanon has Australian citizenship
Petra Yared 1979 Australian television actor born in Australia Lebanese descent
Doris Younane 1963 Actress born in Australia Parents born Lebanon
Susie Youssef 1984 Comedian, Writer, Actor Born in Australia Lebanese descent

See also

References

  1. ^ "The People of Australia – Statistics from the 2016 Census" (PDF). Australian Government.
  2. ^ a b "3416.0 - Perspectives on Migrants, 2007: Birthplace and Religion". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  3. ^ a b "El Australie - a history of Lebanese migration to Australia". Hindsight - ABC Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 February 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  4. ^ "History of immigration from Lebanon". Origins:Immigrant Communities in Victoria. Museum of Victoria. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  5. ^ a b c Monsour, Anne (2005). "Chapter 10. Religion Matters: The experience of Syrian/Lebanese Christians in Australia from the 1880s to 1947". Humanities Research Journal (online version). XII (1, 2005: Bigotry and Religion in Australia, 1865–1950). Australian National University E Press. ISSN 1834-8491. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  6. ^ This was a common enough practice in Australian immigration information — for example, the UK and Ireland were not statistically separated until as late as 1996).[citation needed]
  7. ^ a b c d Humphrey, Michael (2004). "Lebanese identities: between cities, nations and trans-nations". Arab Studies Quarterly (Winter). Association of Arab-American University Graduates: 8. Retrieved 15 July 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |coauthors= and |month= (help)
  8. ^ a b http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/community-under-siege/1970s-lebanese-commission-led-to-an-immigration-debacle/news-story/0d504285023bc42b79c70b3b70f93c2e
  9. ^ "Little Lebanon in Melbourne". reviewstream.com. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  10. ^ "... For Being Lebanese". Four Corners (TV program). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 September 2002. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  11. ^ jackson, Liz (13 March 2006). "Riot and Revenge (Program transcript)". Four Corners (TV program). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  12. ^ Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl at SBS On Demand, 3 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014
  13. ^ Davidson, Helen (18 November 2016). "Australia is paying for Malcolm Fraser's immigration mistakes, says Peter Dutton". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  14. ^ Peters, Daniel (23 November 2016). "'Spot on': Lebanese MP agrees with Peter Dutton that most terror suspects are Lebanese-Muslims - as it's revealed he 'smashed' colleagues who disagreed". Daily Mail. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  15. ^ "Julie Bishop defends Peter Dutton's comments on Lebanese immigration". Nine.com.au. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  16. ^ Lebanese Film Festival: www.lebanesefilmfestival.com.au
  17. ^ Bassil promises to ease citizenship for expatriates
  18. ^ "Country Profile: Lebanon". FCO. 3 April 2007. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "Australian Communities: Lebanese Australians". racismnoway.com.au. 19 January 2006. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ https://guest.censusdata.abs.gov.au/webapi/jsf/tableView/tableView.xhtml
  21. ^ "Estimates of Australian Citizens Living Overseas as at December 2001" (PDF). Southern Cross Group (DFAT data). 14 February 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Govt to foot Lebanon evacuation bill". ABC News. 22 July 2006. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  23. ^ Kazzi, Antoine. Brilliant Faces. Sydney: El-Telegraph, 2009. (ISBN 9780646519135) page 83. This project that describes the achievements of 300 notable Arab Australians was funded by the Australian Government.
  24. ^ McWhirter, Erin (6 February 2010). "Underbelly's Firass Dirani - the day I met John Ibrahim, the King of the Cross". heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  25. ^ "Anthony Alexander Alam - Political Leader". Australian Lebanese Historical Society. 2002. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Tamara Jaber Biography". Take 40. 2008. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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