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Ten Pound Poms
Ten Pound Poms were British citizens who migrated to Australia and New Zealand after the Second World War. The government of Australia initiated the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme in 1945, and the government of New Zealand initiated a similar scheme in 1947. The Australian government arranged for assisted passage to Australia on chartered ships and aircraft.
The migrants were called Ten Pound Poms because of the charge of £10 in processing fees to migrate to Australia.
The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme was created in 1945 by the Chifley government and its first Minister for Immigration, Arthur Calwell, as part of the "Populate or Perish" policy. It was intended to substantially increase the population of Australia and to supply workers for the country's booming industries. As well as subsidising the cost of travelling to Australia, the government promised employment prospects, affordable housing, and a generally more optimistic lifestyle. But upon arrival, migrants were placed in basic migration hostels and the expected job opportunities were not always readily available.
Adult migrants were charged only ten pounds sterling for the fare (hence the name; in 1945 British pounds, equivalent to £545 in 2023), and migrant scheme children travelled free of charge. It was a follow-on to the unofficial Big Brother Movement and attracted more than a million migrants from the British Isles between 1945 and 1972. It was the last substantial scheme for preferential migration from the British Isles to Australia. In 1957, more migrants were encouraged to travel following a campaign called "Bring out a Briton". The scheme reached its peak in 1969, when more than 80,000 migrants took advantage of the scheme. In 1973, the cost to migrants of the assisted passage was increased to £75 (equivalent to £1,146 in 2023). The scheme was ended in 1982.
While the term 'Ten Pound Pom' is in common use, the scheme was not limited to migrants from the United Kingdom. People born in the Irish Free State or in the southern counties of Ireland before the establishment of the Republic of Ireland in 1949 were also classified as British subjects, as outlined in British nationality law and the Republic of Ireland. In fact, most British subjects were eligible and, at the time, that included not only those from the British Isles but also residents of British colonies such as Malta and Cyprus. Australia also operated schemes to assist selected migrants from other countries, notably the Netherlands (1951), Italy (1951), Greece (1952), West Germany (1952) and Turkey (1967).
Assisted migrants were generally required to remain in Australia for two years after arrival, or alternatively refund the cost of their assisted passage. If they chose to travel back to Britain within those two years, the cost of that steamship journey between Australia and Britain was prohibitive, costing at least £120 (in 1945 pounds, equivalent to £6,541 in 2023). It was a large sum in those days and one that most could not afford. Some did return to Britain after the two years in Australia, having worked hard to save up the return fare. Over a million Britons settled in Australia due to this campaign, while 250,000 migrants ended up heading back to Britain. (All prices are quoted in UK pounds.)
It was also possible for many British people to migrate to Australia on a non-assisted basis before the early 1970s, although most travelled as Ten Pounders. This was part of the wider White Australia policy. An estimated quarter of British migrants returned to the UK within the qualifying period; however, half of these – the so-called Boomerang Poms – returned to Australia.
Before 1 December 1973, migrants to Australia from Commonwealth countries were eligible to apply for Australian citizenship after one year's residence in Australia. In 1973, the residence requirement was extended to three years, the requirements being place of residence, good character, knowledge of the language, and rights and duties of citizenship and the intention to live permanently in Australia. In November 1984, the residence requirement was reduced to two years. However, relatively few British migrants – compared to other post-war arrivals, such as Turks – took up Australian citizenship. Consequently, many may have lost their Australian residency status later on, usually through leaving Australia.[citation needed]
Ten Pound Poms
Ten Pound Poms were British citizens who migrated to Australia and New Zealand after the Second World War. The government of Australia initiated the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme in 1945, and the government of New Zealand initiated a similar scheme in 1947. The Australian government arranged for assisted passage to Australia on chartered ships and aircraft.
The migrants were called Ten Pound Poms because of the charge of £10 in processing fees to migrate to Australia.
The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme was created in 1945 by the Chifley government and its first Minister for Immigration, Arthur Calwell, as part of the "Populate or Perish" policy. It was intended to substantially increase the population of Australia and to supply workers for the country's booming industries. As well as subsidising the cost of travelling to Australia, the government promised employment prospects, affordable housing, and a generally more optimistic lifestyle. But upon arrival, migrants were placed in basic migration hostels and the expected job opportunities were not always readily available.
Adult migrants were charged only ten pounds sterling for the fare (hence the name; in 1945 British pounds, equivalent to £545 in 2023), and migrant scheme children travelled free of charge. It was a follow-on to the unofficial Big Brother Movement and attracted more than a million migrants from the British Isles between 1945 and 1972. It was the last substantial scheme for preferential migration from the British Isles to Australia. In 1957, more migrants were encouraged to travel following a campaign called "Bring out a Briton". The scheme reached its peak in 1969, when more than 80,000 migrants took advantage of the scheme. In 1973, the cost to migrants of the assisted passage was increased to £75 (equivalent to £1,146 in 2023). The scheme was ended in 1982.
While the term 'Ten Pound Pom' is in common use, the scheme was not limited to migrants from the United Kingdom. People born in the Irish Free State or in the southern counties of Ireland before the establishment of the Republic of Ireland in 1949 were also classified as British subjects, as outlined in British nationality law and the Republic of Ireland. In fact, most British subjects were eligible and, at the time, that included not only those from the British Isles but also residents of British colonies such as Malta and Cyprus. Australia also operated schemes to assist selected migrants from other countries, notably the Netherlands (1951), Italy (1951), Greece (1952), West Germany (1952) and Turkey (1967).
Assisted migrants were generally required to remain in Australia for two years after arrival, or alternatively refund the cost of their assisted passage. If they chose to travel back to Britain within those two years, the cost of that steamship journey between Australia and Britain was prohibitive, costing at least £120 (in 1945 pounds, equivalent to £6,541 in 2023). It was a large sum in those days and one that most could not afford. Some did return to Britain after the two years in Australia, having worked hard to save up the return fare. Over a million Britons settled in Australia due to this campaign, while 250,000 migrants ended up heading back to Britain. (All prices are quoted in UK pounds.)
It was also possible for many British people to migrate to Australia on a non-assisted basis before the early 1970s, although most travelled as Ten Pounders. This was part of the wider White Australia policy. An estimated quarter of British migrants returned to the UK within the qualifying period; however, half of these – the so-called Boomerang Poms – returned to Australia.
Before 1 December 1973, migrants to Australia from Commonwealth countries were eligible to apply for Australian citizenship after one year's residence in Australia. In 1973, the residence requirement was extended to three years, the requirements being place of residence, good character, knowledge of the language, and rights and duties of citizenship and the intention to live permanently in Australia. In November 1984, the residence requirement was reduced to two years. However, relatively few British migrants – compared to other post-war arrivals, such as Turks – took up Australian citizenship. Consequently, many may have lost their Australian residency status later on, usually through leaving Australia.[citation needed]
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