- Source: Croatian Australians
Croatian Australians (Croatian: Hrvatski Australci) are Australian citizens of Croatian ancestry. Croatia has been a source of migrants to Australia, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s.
History
= Prior to World War II
=Croats were first encouraged to migrate to Australia during the gold rushes of the 1850s taking place in the British colonies of Victoria and New South Wales. Although migration was relatively small, Croatian travellers and sailors employed on merchant vessels played a significant role in spreading the news of the opportunities possible in Australia.
In an interesting occurrence in October 1875, sixteen Croatian sailors aboard the vessel Stefano, became shipwrecked on the Ningaloo Reef along the West Australian coast. Ten survived to reach the shore where the local Yinikutira people gave them food and water, and found their map of the coast among the shipwreck's debris. By January 1876, all but two had died from hunger or exposure. The two survivors, Baccich (aged 16) and Jurich (aged 19), became part of a Yinikutira clan and spent the following three months living with them around the North West Cape. They were rescued by a pearler looking for Aboriginal labour in April 1876 and, after a few months in Fremantle, they returned to Europe.
The Western Australian gold rushes in the 1890s started a significant migration of Croats (mainly from Dalmatia) to Australia and by the early part of the 20th century, there were around 2000 to 3000 people of Croatian origin in Australia, 80% of these residing in Western Australia. Around 100 Australian Croats fought for the Allies during World War I. However, during this war around 600 non-naturalised Croats were interned at the Holsworthy Internment Camp where 20 died and about 500 were later deported from Australia in 1919.
During World War II, the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler established the fascist puppet-state of the Independent State of Croatia. Croatian Australian representatives during this time deplored this development as a tragedy for the Croatian people and condemned the quisling Ante Pavelić as a traitor.
Tom Starcevich, a Croatian Australian born in Subiaco, Western Australia was a recipient of the Victoria Cross medal for bravery during World War II.
= Post World War II
=Croatian migration to Australia took on a different aspect after World War II. From 1945 to 1952, Australia's post-war immigration scheme saw around 170,000 Eastern European displaced persons, including Croatians, given residency. Some of these Croatian migrants were associated with the defeated Ustaše regime. In the context of the White Australia policy, Cold War anti-communism, and the shortage of workers at the time, the Ustaše in Australia were allowed to dominate and influence the Croatian migrant community through the establishment cultural and sporting clubs around Australia that promoted Ustaše ideals. This influence continues into 21st century Croatian-Australian society.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, the Ustaše splinter groups in Australia led by people like Srećko Rover ran a campaign of bombings, intimidation and insurgency operations against pro-Yugoslav interests. Eventually, after a large bombing in Sydney injured many people, a crackdown on the Ustaše movement in the Croatian-Australia community occurred from late 1972. This was spearheaded by the Attorney-General, Lionel Murphy, who raided ASIO Headquarters and made public the files on the Croatian terrorist activities.
In November 1977, an unofficial Croatian embassy was opened in Canberra, causing a legal and diplomatic difficulty for both the Australian and Yugoslav governments. The embassy, aimed at raising awareness of Croatia as a nation and the Croatian people separate from Yugoslavia, remained open for 2 years closing in 1979. Its ambassador was Mario Despoja, the father of former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja.
Since the independence of Croatia in the 1990s, an official embassy has been opened in Canberra and consulates have been opened in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.
The Yugoslavia-born population reached 129,616 by the 1971 Census and 160,479 by the 1991 Census. The greatest number settled in Sydney and Melbourne, though Croats are well represented in every Australian city and region. Croatian migration to Australia has been very low since the 1980s.
Demographics
The 2021 Census data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that 43,302 persons resident in Australia identified themselves as having been born in Croatia, representing about 0.15% of the Australian population. The Census also noted 164,362 persons identified themselves as having Croatian ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry, representing a further 0.65% of the Australian population. Most of this demographic were shown to reside in Victoria and New South Wales.
As the level of immigration from Croatia has dropped significantly from the 1980s, the Croatian-born population is ageing: 57% of the Croatian-born population was aged 65 years or older at the time of the 2021 Census. The 2021 data also revealed that 15% of Croatian born Australians spoke only Croatian at home, while 24% spoke only English at home, and 72% of Croatian born Australians recorded their religion as Catholic.
Croatian Australians historically have an exceptionally low rate of return migration to Croatia. In December 2001, the Department of Foreign Affairs estimated that there were 1,000 Australian citizens resident in Croatia, mainly in Zagreb.
Croatian Australians and sport
Sport is an important part of Croatian Australian culture, whilst they are visible in numerous different sports, they are most notably visible in soccer, with numerous clubs established by local Croatian communities throughout the country, the most notable and successful being Sydney Croatia and Melbourne Croatia. These clubs nurtured the soccer talents of a large number of Croatian Australians, many of whom now play professionally overseas. Croatian Australians have played for both Croatia and Australia. In the 2006 World Cup, there were seven Croatian Australians playing for Australia and three playing for Croatia. A total of 47 Croatian Australians have gone on to play for the Australian national soccer team, including 7 who captained the national team. The Australian-Croatian Soccer Tournament is the oldest running soccer competition in Australia.
= Croatian Australian Socceroos
== Croatian Australian Matildas
=Emily Gielnik
= Croatian Australians in Croatian national team
=Anthony Šerić
Josip Šimunić
Joey Didulica
= Notable Croatian Australians to represent Australia in other Sports
=Nathan Cleary - Rugby League
Simon Katich - Cricket
Max Krilich - Rugby League (C)
Nicola Olyslagers - High Jumping
Andrew Vlahov - Basketball
Culture
= Folklore
=Croatian Folkloric Arts Festival in Adelaide
Croatian folklore group "Zagreb", Perth
Folklore ensemble "Vukovar", Sydney (since 1984)
= Events
=Croats in Australia from the Sali on Dugi Otok island organised themselves into "Sons of Sali" (S.O.S.) and "Sisters of Sali". They organise the Annual Sons of Sali Picnic and Bocce competition, as well as SOS Karte nights.
Language
The Association of Croatian Language Teachers in Victoria, established in the 1970s, helped in developing Croatian language programs for primary and secondary schools in Victoria.
Australian Croatian Community Services (ACCS), based in Footscray, provides Croatian language courses
Croatian Language Center, teaching Croatian as a foreign language
Croatian Studies Centre (CSC) within the School of Modern Languages at Sydney's Macquarie University, established in 1994.
Periodicals
Croatian Herald, newspaper in Victoria
Caritas Croatia, monthly bulletin of "Croatian Caritas Australia"
List of notable Croatian Australians
= Entertainment and the arts
=Steve Abbott – comedian, The Sandman, Russian/Croatian mother
Eric Bana – actor (Croatian father)
Charles Billich – artist
Antonio Botic – Photographer, Content Creator.
Nathaniel Buzolic – actor
Drago Marin Cherina – sculptor
Branka Čubrilo – novelist – Croatian born, migrated to Australia 1992.
Ante Dabro – sculptor
Anita Finneran (nee Varga) – Teenage Eurovision Contestant, teacher.
Natalie Franceska (nee Blažević) – children's author
Silvana Gardner – poet and visual artist
Robert Jozinović – actor
Melita Jurisic – actress
Robert Luketić – film director
Tatjana Lukić – poetry editor and poet
Ivan Sen – film director – Croatian father, Aboriginal mother
Marisa Siketa – actress
Mark Strizic – Photographer and painter.
Frances Vidakovic – author and blogger.
Emma Viskic – author – Croatian father, Irish Australian mother.
= Music
=Alison Wonderland – electronic dance music producer, DJ and singer.
Russell Baricevic – bass guitar – Bored, Pray TV, The Gas Babies, Macho Clowns, Unclean Spirits
Peter "Blackie" Black – (Croatian mother) – musician, founding member of The Hard-Ons.
Philip Bračanin – composer and musicologist.
Josipa [Knežević] Draisma – comedian, singer, actor, writer and theatre maker.
Mikelangelo (Michael Simic) aka The Balkan Elvis – singer (solo, Johnny Presley and the Zagreb Allstars, Mikelangelo and the Tin Star). Father is Croatian from Tučepi, Croatia.
Steve Pavlovic – music entrepreneur
Roddy Radalj – musician, founding member of the Hoodoo Gurus, the Dubrovniks and Roddy Ray'Da & the Surfin' Caesars.
Rex Radonich (1950–1986) – Banjo player in Australian Bluegrass band Bullamakanka. Was regarded as the best at picker at the time. Grandson of Mate Radonic (born Podgora Croatia) of New Zealand.
Natalie D-Napoleon – (Croatian father and mother) – Australian singer-songwriter and poet.
Tony Slavich – keyboardist – Ariel, Sun, Mike Rudd and the Heaters, Mondo Rock, Goldrush, Ross Ryan band, Richard Clapton Band.
Adalita, born Adalita Srsen, solo performer and member of Magic Dirt. Her father is Croatian.
Boris Sujdovic – (Croatian mother) – musician, founding member of The Scientists, the Dubrovniks, Beasts of Bourbon.
Simone Young – (Croatian mother) – Australian conductor
Samantha Tutić, stage name: Samsaruh – musician, born and raised to Croatian parents in Melbourne, sung and recorded in Croatian
= Academia
=David Andrich – academic
Luka Budak – author, Head of Croatian Studies, Macquarie University.
Val Colic-Peisker – associate professor, sociologist and author.
Vesna Drapac – Associate Professor of History at University of Adelaide, author ("Constructing Yugoslavia: A Transnational History" 2010).
Roman Krznaric – social philosopher, author ("The Wonderbox: Curious histories of how to live" 2011, "How to Find Fulfilling Work (The School of Life)" 2013 , "How Should We Live?: Great Ideas from the Past for Everyday Life" 2015, "Empathy: Why It Matters, and How to Get It" 2015, "The First Beautiful Game: Stories of Obsession in Real Tennis" 2015, "Carpe Diem: Seizing the Day in a Distracted World" 2017) and founder of the Empathy Museum.
Ralph Pervan (1938–1980) – academic and author ("Tito and the students : the university and the university in self-managing Yugoslavia" 1978), namesake of the "Ralph Pervan scholarship", University Hall, Western Australia.
= Science and medicine
=Tony Bacic – biologist
Brice Bosnich – chemist
Stjepan Marcelja – physicist
Boris Martinac – biophysicist
Ivan Marusic – physicist
Vlado Perkovic – physician
Zed Rengel – environmental scientist
Ralph Sarich – Inventor of the revolutionary Orbital Engine, and at one stage, in the 1970s, Australia's richest person.
Frances Separovic- biophysical chemist
Hrvoje Tkalčić – geophysicist
= Business and work
=Jim Bosnjak – former owner of Westbus, the biggest bus company in Australia
Katarina Carroll (nee Bošnjak) – first female Police Commissioner, for the State of Queensland. Her parents are from Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Juli Grbac, fashion designer who was the first winner of Project Runway Australia.
Tony Šantić – Millionaire tuna fisherman, horse breeder and owner of Makybe Diva
Tony and Ron Perich – brothers, property development, on Forbes Australia's 20 Richest people 2019.
Zeljko Ranogajec – businessman and professional gambler.
John Setka – Australian Trade Union leader
= Media
=Charmaine Dragun – journalist
Laura Dundovic – Top 10 finalist of Miss Universe 2008
Tom Dusevic – journalist, author ("Whole Wild World", 2016)
friendlyjordies – Jordan Shanks-Markovina; independent journalist, YouTuber, stand-up comedian and former model (Scottish father, Croatian mother)
George Grljusich – sports journalist
Sarah Harris – journalist
Andrew O'Keefe – TV personality (Croatian mother)
Amos Gill – Comedian, Radio and TV Presenter
Silvio Rivier – Television presenter (born in Croatia, migrated to Australia in 1961).
Freddie Botica – long -time radio announcer in Perth, born in New Zealand to Croatian parents.
= Politics
=Danica Baričević – politician (Croatian Democratic Union), born in Myrtleford, Victoria
Mick Nanovich – politician (Liberal Party), Western Australia
Maria Kovacic - politician, senator (Liberal Party), NSW
Tony Krsticevic – politician (Liberal Party), Western Australia
John Newman – Born John Naumenko, politician (Labor Party) NSW.
Jaye Radisich – politician (Labor Party), Western Australia
Ljiljanna Ravlich – politician (Labor Party), Western Australia
Zed Seselja – politician, senator (Liberal Party), ACT
Natasha Stott Despoja – federal politician, senator (Australian Democrats) – South Australia
Zorana Balaban – lawyer (Websters lawyers), South Australia
= Other
=Mate Alac – (Born Drašnice, Croatia 1908 – 1997)- Miner (in Western Australia) and author of memoir "Into The World" (1992).
Vincent Abbott – gold hunter, pioneer of the Murchison Goldfields and who had the town of Abbotts, Western Australia named after him. He was born Vincent Vranjican in the town of Starigrad, Island of Hvar, Dalmatia, Croatia.
Matthew Beovich – Roman Catholic priest, Archbishop of Adelaide.
Blaž Kraljević – Croatian and Bosnian general
Ivan Milat – notorious serial killer (Croatian father)
Vincent Serventy – a noted Australian author, ornithologist and conservationist.
Tom Starcevich – World War 2 Victoria Cross recipient
Marinko 'Tich' Tomas – First Western Australian military serviceman killed in the Vietnam War.
Frank Vitkovic – perpetrator of the Queen Street massacre, half-Croat through his father
= Sport
=Jason Akermanis – His father, Denis Dezdjek, is Croatian.
Noah Balta – Australian rules footballer
Alex Banovich – rowing
Adrian Barich – Australian rules and rugby league footballer
Andrew Barisic – football (soccer) player, Kingfisher East Bengal
Andrew Bogut – basketball player, Sydney Kings; formerly with several NBA teams
Tiana Boras – Track and field
Mark Bosnich – former football (soccer) player, Australia, now soccer TV analyst
Mark Bresciano – football (soccer) player, Al Nasr and Australia (Croatian mother)
Ivan Cleary – Rugby league coach and former player
Nathan Cleary – Rugby league player
Ante Čović – footballer (soccer) player, Elfsborg and Australia
Jason Čulina- football (soccer) player, Gold Coast United and Australia
Alan Didak – Australian rules footballer
Joey Didulica – former Croatian footballer
Bronko Djura – former rugby league footballer and cricketer
Jelena Dokic – tennis player (Croatian mother)
John Dorotich – Australian rules footballer
Anthony Drmic – basketball player, Adelaide 36ers
Frank Drmic – basketball player, last played for South Dragons
Mate Dugandzic – football (soccer) player, Adelaide United FC
Ray Gabelich – Australian rules footballer
Eugene Galekovic – football (soccer) player and Socceroo
Darren Gaspar – Australian rules footballer
John Gerovich – Australian rules footballer
Antony Golec – football (soccer) player, Central Coast Mariners, formerly Sydney FC, Sydney United and Adelaide United
Brent Grgić – Australian rules footballer
Ivan Henjak – former Rugby league footballer and coach
Matt Henjak – Rugby union player, Toulon and formerly Australia (nephew of Ivan)
Allen Jakovich – Australian rules footballer
Glen Jakovich – Australian rules footballer
Vedran Janjetović – football (soccer) player
Mile Jedinak – footballer (soccer), Aston Villa and Australia.
Wayne Johnston – Australian rules footballer
Tomi Jurić – footballer (soccer) and Socceroo
Željko Kalac- former football (soccer) player, Kavala and Australia, now soccer TV analyst
Anthony Kalik – footballer
Simon Katich – Australian Cricket representative
Max Krilich – Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s
Anthony Leban – Australian footballer
Dean Lukin – Olympic weight lifting gold medallist
Ivan Maric – Australian rules footballer
Marinko Matosevic – Tennis player
Brody Mihocek – Australian rules footballer
Jack Mihocek – Australian rules footballer
Ante Milicic – former football (soccer) player, Rijeka and Australia
Tomislav Mrčela – Australian footballer, NK Lokomotiva and Australia
Nicola Olyslagers – Australian high jumper
Len Pascoe – Australian Cricket representative
Matthew Pavlich – Australian rules footballer
Anthony Perosh – mixed martial arts fighter
Val Perovic - Australian rules footballer
Tony Popović – former football (soccer) player and current manager
Jack Rocchi – Australian rules footballer
Ivan Rukavina – boxing
Steven Salopek – Australian rules footballer
Tony Sekulić – former football (soccer) player
Anthony Šerić – football (soccer) player, Hajduk Split and Croatia
Josip Šimunić – former football (soccer) player, Hoffenheim and Croatia
Elvis Sinosic – mixed martial arts fighter
Josip Skoko – former football (soccer) player, Hajduk Split and Australia
Ivan Soldo – Australian rules footballer
Brandon Starcevich – Australian rules footballer
Craig Starcevich – Australian rules footballer
Peter Sumich – Australian rules footballer
Erik Surjan – decathlete
Jacob Surjan – Australian rules footballer
Ajla Tomljanović – tennis player
Bernard Tomić – tennis player
Steven Ugarković – football player
Mark Viduka – former football (soccer) player for numerous club teams and Australia
Dennis Yagmich – cricket
David Zdrilić – football (soccer) player, now soccer TV analyst
Ned Zelić – former football (soccer) player for numerous club teams and Australia, now soccer TV analyst
Noah Botić – football (soccer) player
Andrew Vlahov – basketball and four-time Olympian
See also
Australia–Croatia relations
Ustaše in Australia
Croatian New Zealanders
European Australians
Europeans in Oceania
Immigration to Australia
List of Croatian soccer clubs in Australia
List of Croats
Croatian Canadians
Croatian Americans
References
Further reading
External links
http://www.cronet.com.au/ – Australian Croatian community portal
Walter F Lalich and Luka Budak – Croatian Studies Centre, Macquarie University (2008). "Croatians". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 4 October 2015. (Croatians in Sydney)
https://www.taliwine.com.au/aboutus
https://katgully.com.au/about-us/
https://www.windycreekestate.com.au/about-us.html Archived 11 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine
https://www.swanvalley.com.au/Business-Directory/John-Kosovich-Wines Archived 23 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Negara Islam Irak dan Syam
- Croatian Australians
- Croatian diaspora
- Ustaše in Australia
- European Australians
- Australia–Croatia relations
- Sydney United 58 FC
- Croatian Six
- List of Croatian soccer clubs in Australia
- Croats
- Serbian Australians
