Italians were the largest non-British group to migrate to Australia during the post-war migration boom. Today there are over a quarter of a million Italian-born people in the country. "Australia's Italians" examines the emergence of Italian culture and community, and the impact Italians have had on Australia. Italians started arriving in Australia in the nineteenth century. Some worked as itinerant labourers, while others established farms, fishing industries and businesses. Later settlers became "factory fodder" in the ...
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Italians were the largest non-British group to migrate to Australia during the post-war migration boom. Today there are over a quarter of a million Italian-born people in the country. "Australia's Italians" examines the emergence of Italian culture and community, and the impact Italians have had on Australia. Italians started arriving in Australia in the nineteenth century. Some worked as itinerant labourers, while others established farms, fishing industries and businesses. Later settlers became "factory fodder" in the cities. Their lives were hard, but, for many, frugality and tenacity led to success. Assimilationist policies tried to turn the Italians into "New Australians", but they were determined to keep their culture and language. They established clubs and associations, churches and welfare associations. Italian neighbourhoods like Carlton in Melbourne and Leichhardt in Sydney gave Australian cities a new cosmopolitan flavour. Drawing together contributions from sociologists, historians, language experts and community figures, the editors address a vital theme. Australia developed as a society modelled on British traditions and culture, and has had great difficulty coming to terms with its place in a post-colonial world. They argue that the Italians and other Europeans have changed Australia, making it more open and cosmopolitan, and thus better able to deal with a post-European future. "Stephen Castles, Gaetano Rando and Ellie Vasta all teach at the University of Wollongong; Caroline Alcorso is a freelance researcher.".
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