Australian Lebanese Migration Journey
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AUSTRALIAN LEBANESE MIGRATION JOURNEY Lebanese Migration, White Australia Policy and the Cronulla Riots OCTOBER 22, 2018 RANIA HASSOUN [email protected] Table of Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 3 Early Settlers .............................................................................................................. 4 Contributions to Australian Society…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..5 White Australia Policy……………………………………………………………………………… 7 Cronulla Riots………………………………………………………………………………………... 8 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………9 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………….10 1 | P a g e 2 | P a g e Australian Lebanese Migration Journey Former Australian Prime Minister ABSTRACT Malcolm Fraser This paper will focus on the earliest settlement of the Lebanese 1981 community in Australia. Lebanese immigrant was the first Arab "The less constructively a society responds to its own diversity the countries to settle into Australia around the late 19th century. Due to less capable it becomes of doing the outbreak of war and economic hardship the nation faced, many so. Its reluctance to respond, fuelled by the fear of sought asylum in Australia. Many of the immigrants were small encouraging division, becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy – the groups or individual males who hoped to work and make quick erosion of national cohesion is a result not of the fact of diversity money to return home. However, many saw hope and prosperity in but its denial and suppression". their surroundings, and some returned home while the others brought the rest of their families and in the hope of a better life. The Lebanese Famous community was well educated and effectively assimilated in the Newspaper Australian society, were some later established large businesses in retailing, warehousing and manufacturing. quotes The Lebanese community contributed constructively to Australian society and were well-respected members of the community. This "One arrives every minute." image, however, was soon to be tainted by a cluster of second and "An open door for migrants." third generation Lebanese Australians, in the New South Wales "Doing your dirty work." region. One event in particular that has remained as a black cloud over the Lebanese community was the events that transpired in the 2005 Cronulla riots. 3 | P a g e EARLY SETTLERS ebanese immigrants are one of the earliest non-English and non-European migrant groups to have settled in Australia and became the prominent nationality to reside in Lmetropolitan Sydney in the late 19th century.1 The first settlement of Lebanese nationalities dates back to 1880s, as many were escaping the Turkish Empire’s dominance that ruled their native land. The Ottoman Empire controlled Lebanon the First World War, and after the Empires fall, a ruling from the League of Nations stemmed Lebanon and “Whereas the Principal Allied Powers have agreed that the territory of Syria and the Lebanon, which formerly belonged to Syria to become a part of the French the Turkish Empire shall, within such boundaries as may be mandate which lasted from 1920 to fixed by the said Powers, be entrusted to a Mandatory charged with the duty of rendering administrative advice and assistance the Second World War.2 to the population, in accordance with the provisions of Article 22 (paragraph 4) of the Covenant of the League of Nations.” Before this mandate, a series of French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon (Nations, 1923) overlapping and complicated conflicts dominated the period before the first Lebanese settlement to Australia with ongoing Druze and Ottoman clashes. The Ottoman government being the stronger force then issued a Land Code with the intention of creating a peasant-led market economy, however, European pressure forced the implementation to be deferred. These years witnessed considerable social agitation in Europe and other Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire. Due to the poor conditions of the peasants in Lebanon a rise in rebellions transpired, one riot left over 200 people dead in 1858.3 These riots constituted the regional context for the events of 1858-60 subsequently in Mount Lebanon. The main parties that most suffered during this period were the Maronite commoners and peasants of the North and the Druze of the South. Therefore, many early settlers originated from rural villages located in Mount Lebanon as they were one of the most neglected areas in Lebanon. However, many low-income families remained in their 1 Trabousli, F., 2012. The Emirate of Mount Lebanon (1523-1842). In: A History of Modern . London: Pluto Press, pp.6 2 Trabousli, F., 2012. The Emirate of Mount Lebanon (1523-1842). In: A History of Modern . London: Pluto Press, pp. 17. 3 Trabousli, F., 2012. The Emirate of Mount Lebanon (1523-1842). In: A History of Modern . London: Pluto Press, pp. 21 4 | P a g e homeland as they treasured ‘the land that feeds them'. Therefore, several of the early settlers were young men whose ambitions were to come to Australia, work and send money back home to their families. As political tension increased in Lebanon after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the desire to leave behind the civil conflict, war and poverty; migrating to Australia was the escape many sought. By the end of World War One, an estimated 100,000 inhabitants of Beirut and Mount Lebanon had died of famine.4 Not long after this period, a chain migration occurred in the different groups in the suburban district of New South Wales and Victoria with the increase of tradespeople, and labourers and other skilled workers. The Lebanese migration was achieved through three waves; the first was 1880 to 1920s followed by the second in 1947 to 1975 and the third 1976 to present date. Although all settlers were Lebanese born, due to different religious beliefs many settled in areas based on the religious and cultural beliefs similar to the divisions and civil tension that is present in the homeland. 5 CONTRIBUTIONS TO AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY With motivations to improve their lives with the opportunity to better their family's future, along with their financial status, the Lebanese community had a somewhat positive impact on the Australian economy. The first wave of migration had the Lebanese community seek occupations such as hawking, shop-keeping and Dan’s Shop in Gloucester, NSW, in the 1950s. Photograph courtesy of the Australian Lebanese Historical Society manufacturing industry labourers. The Collection 4 Trabousli, F., 2012. The Emirate of Mount Lebanon (1523-1842). In: A History of Modern . London: Pluto Press, pp. 22 5 Burnley, I., 1982. Lebanese Migration and Settlement in Sydney, Australia. The International Migration Review, 16(1), pp. 102-132. 5 | P a g e second wave brought through the highly educated migrants and was marked by the movements of ownership of smaller businesses to larger businesses in the service sector. The dominance of Sydney in the early settlement dates back to when Lebanese hawkers and traders plied their wares, at first in the street, and then at small stalls and shops. However, the third wave faced issues of unemployment due to the decline in manufacturing industries.6 Religious organisations that have been established in Sydney and Melbourne date back to as early as 1895 and 1931 have been successful in developing a variety of educational services such as, schools, child cares and aged care facilities. Michael’s Melkite Church was the first church established by the Lebanese Community and a sufficient number of churches can be found throughout Australia that represents the Lebanese Maronite and Orthodox. 7 The third migration wave witnessed an increase in the Lebanese Muslim population which resulted in the expansion of the Islamic Society predominantly in Sydney and Melbourne and the development of mosques, schools, youth groups and other welfare programs. The longest setup associations are the Australian Lebanese Associations, which were set up in the 1950s in New South Wales and Victoria. They serve as umbrella associations for the Lebanese communities within the different states and as branches of the World Lebanese Social Union. They are perceived by the Lebanese Government as the agents of the Lebanese communities in Australia.8 6 Burnley, I., 1982. Lebanese Migration and Settlement in Sydney, Australia. The International Migration Review, 16(1), pp. 109 7 Burnley, I., 1982. Lebanese Migration and Settlement in Sydney, Australia. The International Migration Review, 16(1), pp. 117 8 Burnley, I., 1982. Lebanese Migration and Settlement in Sydney, Australia. The International Migration Review, 16(1), pp. 125 6 | P a g e WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY Introduced in 1901 the Immigration Restriction Act with the intention to develop a ‘white’ Australia significantly affected the social identities of the Lebanese community. The policy aimed to restrict any non-European migrants from entering Australia through implementing certain test and requirements that must be met otherwise they become ‘Prohibited Immigrants’.9 Even though this policy was not directed at the Lebanese community it was evident that this Act was introduced to deter any non-Europeans to migrate to Australia. The Act sort to restore ‘white' Australia as a result of the inflation of other foreign nationalities. For instance, Immigrants were prohibited from entering Australia if they failed a test in a European language chosen by the migration officer.10