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Not to be confused with American Australian.
Australian American
Total population

60,965
Regions with significant populations
California, Hawaii, New York

An Australian American is a naturalized American citizen with a significant relationship to Australia, such as by being born in Australia, by holding Australian citizenship, or being a descendant of people from Australia.

The first wave of emigration from Australia to the United States came in the 1850s California Gold Rush when mostly Irish migrants who had escaped the Great Irish Famine had previously worked on the Australian goldfields.

The story of Australian American population almost follows the story of both British Americans and Irish Americans, as Australia was a British political territory at the time when they first emigrated and most of the settlers were Irish. In San Francisco the "Sydney Ducks" as they were known, were in violent conflict with nativist locals. Transpacific immigration then dried up while the American Civil War waged. It picked up during the period of Reconstruction, but faltered again when Australia was hit by a depression in the late 1890s.

Immigration to the United States peaked in the years following World War II, due to America's increased economic activity, and the exodus of 15,000 Australian war brides who married US servicemen. From 1971 to 1990 more than 86,400 Australians and New Zealanders immigrated to the United States.[1]

Contents

Demographics

At the 2000 Census 60,965 Australian born people were enumerated in the United States, of which 15,315 were citizens. Around 40% of Australian Americans had entered the United States before 1980.[2]

Australians are held to be predominantly white/of the European race and of Anglo-British ancestry, but the facts are Australia is home to many different races and ethnic groups. Some white Australians may have Australian Aborigine ancestry indigenous to the continent, and many European and later Asian immigrants (i.e. Chinese, Southeast Asians, Indians and Middle Easterners to name a few) settled in the country since the end of WWII.

Notable Australian Americans

Business

Name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Jacques Nasser 1947- former CEO of Ford Motors born Lebanon but raised in Australia lived in US as CEO of major US company
Rupert Murdoch 1931- CEO of News Corporation born Australia in 1985 Murdoch became a naturalized citizen of the United States

Public Service

Name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
John Henderson blind activist native of Australia came to the U.S. with his parents as a child and settled there
Martin Indyk 1951- former US Ambassador to Israel (British born, Australian raised) US Governmental roles
Norbert Basil MacLean III 1971 U.S. Navy veteran who championed Supreme Court access for U.S. military personnel dual citizen by descent dual citizen by birth
James Wolfensohn 1933- former president of the World Bank born Australia in 1980 became a naturalized citizen of the United States

Politics

Name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Harry Bridges 1901-1990 International Longshore and Warehouse Union leader born Australia became a naturalized US citizen in 1945

Writers

Name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Jill Ker Conway 1934- writer born Australia works in US
Sumner Locke Elliott 1917-1991 writer of Careful, he might hear you born Australia moved to the United States in 1948 and obtained US citizenship in 1955

Scientists

Name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Paul D. Scully-Power 1944- oceanographer and astronaut born Australia became a U.S. citizen in 1982
Andy Thomas 1951- astronaut born Australia became a U.S. citizen in December 1986

Artists

Name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Pat Oliphant 1935- New York Times cartoonist born Australia emigrated to the United States in 1964

Sport

Name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Darren Bennett 1965- Australian rules and American Football born, played in AFL played in NFL
Jamie Dundee 1971- Professional Wrestling born in Australia moved to the US aged 3
Taylor Dent 1981- tennis father is Australian born United States
Rob Machado 1973- WCT Surfer Born in Sydney grew up and lives in California

Music

Name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Flea 1962- Red Hot Chilli Peppers bassist born Australia lived America from age 5
John Butler 1962- [Lead singer of The John Butler Trio Family moved to Australia at age 11 Born in America; Mother is American
MC Lars 1982- rapper father Australian born America
Rick Springfield 1949- singer, songwriter, actor born and raised in Australia lived and worked in America since the age of 22 and became a naturalised citizen of the US in 2006.
Mark Stoermer 1977- The Killers' bassist Father is Australian Born in the US

Actors/Actresses

Name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Jacinda Barrett 1972- actress born and raised Australia Moved to US in the 90s to pursue her acting career and has resided there ever since. Is married to an American, Gabriel Macht and they have a child.
Leon Errol 1881-1951 vaudeville born Australia worked and died in America
Errol Flynn 1909-1959 actor born and raised Australia Moved to the US finding Hollywood Stardom in the 30s. Became a naturalised US Citizen in 1942. Died in America.
Peter Finch 1916-1977 actor born UK, raised in Australia Moved to Hollywood in the 50s. Won a posthumous Best Actor Oscar in 1977, for his performance in the film, Network. Buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
George Lazenby 1939- former Bond born Australia lived in America and owned real estate there
Anthony LaPaglia 1959- Without a Trace actor born Australia lives and works in America
Mel Gibson 1956- actor and director moved to Australia when he was 12 years old and educated there, honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (he is not an Australian Citizen, but is an Australian resident) born United States and holds dual citizenship in America and the Republic of Ireland
Tristan Rogers 1946- General Hospital actor born Australia naturalized US citizen
Portia de Rossi 1973- actress born and raised Australia Moved to the US in the 90s to pursue her acting career and has resided there ever since. Is in a long term relationship with American Ellen DeGeneres. The two were married on 16 August 2008.
Ann Richards 1917-2006 actress born Australia moved to the United States in 1942, worked and died there; father American
Nathalia Ramos 1993 actress mother is Australian moved to the United States was she was four
Kristen Stewart 1990- actress Mother is Australian Born in the United States however has expressed a desire to live in Australia and become a dual citizen.

Other

Name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Soledad O'Brien 1966- television journalist for CNN father is Australian born in the US
Marsha Waggoner 1940- champion poker player born Australia lived in America since 1977
Christopher Wilder 1945-1984 serial killer born Australia father American; emigrated to the United States in 1969