Norwegian Australians

Norwegian Australians
Norskaustraliere

Total population
(Norwegian 3,710 (by birth, 2011) 23,037 (by ancestry, 2011))
Regions with significant populations
Melbourne, Tasmania, Adelaide, Sydney, Perth
Languages
Australian English, Norwegian
Religion
Protestant, Roman Catholic
Related ethnic groups
Norwegians, Norwegian New Zealanders, Danish Australians, Swedish Australians

Norwegian Australians (Norwegian: Norskaustraliere) are Australian citizens of Norwegian ancestry. The majority of these people were part of the Norwegian diaspora.

History

An organised European immigration to Australia was initiated in 1788. Most of the early emigrants were deported from Britain to the "Penal Colony". The most famous was probably Knud Geelmuyden Bull (1811 - 1889), from Bergen, a painter and forger of coins who was deported to Hobart, Tasmania.

Organised emigration began with a single person in 1867, two the next year and 15 emigrants in 1869. There was a strong percentage growth, with 50 in 1870, 221 in 1871, 784 in 1872, 354 in 1873, 36 in 1874, 76 in 1875 and 42 in 1876, about 1500 in total. In 1880, a further 595 Norwegians emigrated to Australia.

In 2008, 800 people celebrated the Norwegian Constitution Day in Brisbane. The 17 May celebrations in Brisbane have in recent years been considered to be the largest celebration of the Norwegian national day in the southern hemisphere.

Students

Australia is one of the most popular countries for Norwegian students.

Half of the Norwegian students in Australia and New Zealand are members of ANSA — the Association of Norwegian Students Abroad. The Norwegian Embassy in Canberra cooperates closely with ANSA Australia, and has for instance its own column in ANSA Australia's magazine "ANZA".

Notable Norwegian Australians

Name	Birth and Death	Occupation	Notes
Henry Lawson	1867-1922	Writer and poet	Norwegian descent
Chris Leikvoll	1975-	Rugby league player	Norwegian descent
Annalise Braakensiek	1972-	Model, actress and TV presenter	Czech, German and Norwegian descent
Anita Hegh	1972-	Actor	Norwegian and Swedish-Estoninan descent
Dominic Purcell	1970-	Actor	Of Norwegian, English and Irish descent
Mary Hansen	1966-2002	Singer	Danish and Norwegian descent
Jasmuheen	1957-	Breatharian	Norwegian descent
Derek Hansen	1944-	Novelist and story writer	Norwegian descent
Justus Jorgensen	1893-1975	Artist and Architect	Norwegian descent

See also

• The Archer brothers
• Eidsvold, Queensland, after Eidsvoll, Norway