Study / Part 1: Australia and its people
A new nation built by migration
- The colonies joined as the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901
- About four million people lived here in 1901, not counting Indigenous peoples
- After the 1967 Referendum, Indigenous peoples were counted in the population
- Early 1900s programs encouraged British migrants
- After World War II, many non-British Europeans arrived
- English is the national language
- Over 100 Indigenous languages are also valued
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1901 | Federation; population about four million (Indigenous peoples not counted) |
| First half of the 1900s | Programs encourage British migrants |
| After World War II | Large wave of non-British European migrants |
| 1967 | Referendum leads to Indigenous peoples being counted in population estimates |
Key facts
- 1901: colonies federated as the Commonwealth of Australia.
- Population in 1901: about four million (Indigenous peoples not counted).
- Indigenous peoples counted in population estimates after the 1967 Referendum.
- Early 1900s: programs encouraged British migrants.
- After World War II: large wave of non-British European migrants.
- National language: English.
- More than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are valued.