World map with arrows showing migration of people from Europe and Asia to Australia and the Americas. The key text at the top reads 'The flow of population The average yearly migration from Europe during the 5 years ending June 1912, was 910,570 Where did they go?'

The flow of population, 1920, nla.obj-297463529

Group portrait of eight Pacific Islander men holding large guns and three British 'recruiters'

A. Lomer & Co., Recruiters & boats crew, New Hebrides, Queensland labour traffic, c. 1890, nla.obj-135246241

Black and white photo of Japanese men on a pearl diving boat, one dressed in diving attire but with the helmet off

John Flynn, Japanese pearl divers, Broome, Western Australia, c. 1914, nla.obj-142355689

Watercolour of an internment camp with several small, one-storey buildings and lots of empty space

Watercolour of Hay Internment Camp on Nari Nari, Wiradjuri, and Yitha Yitha Country from the Records of Hay Internment Camp, 1940-1941, nla.cat-vn2921273

The lead-up to Federation in 1901 centred around desire for a ‘white’ national identity. British political values, including the rights of the individual, personal liberty and, private property, a broadly free market economy, state-owned infrastructure, democratic institutions and constitutional government, informed the creation of the Australian nation. These ideas were thought to be incompatible with a society containing different races with different standards of living.  

The 1901 Constitution gave the federal parliament powers to make laws regarding ‘people of any race’, except Aboriginal people, and issues such as ‘immigration and emigration’, ‘naturalisation and aliens’ and the ‘influx of criminals’, all of which underpinned the laws that would make up the White Australia policy. 

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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