Post-war refugees

After the war, Australia encouraged migration from other European countries to increase the population. Millions of people had fled Nazi Germany or were unable to return to their homelands now occupied by Soviet Russia. Approximately 170,000 of these displaced persons were accepted into Australia to begin a new life.

There was also an acute shortage of labour in Australia. The government at the time believed that population growth was essential for the country’s future. Healthy adult migrants under the age of 45 years could travel to Australia for £10 and their children could travel for free. Migrants were, however, still restricted to those of British or European nationalities.