An Excess of Paperwork

Title

An Excess of Paperwork

Description

The number of forms that could be filled out in order for immigrants to remain in, or enter, Australia was staggering. The most common included Alien Registration Certificates, Naturalisation Applications and Certificates of Exemption from the Dictation Test (CEDT).

A CEDT provided the applicant with immunity from the Dictation Test. The Dictation Test was implemented by the Immigration Restriction Act; any person wishing to migrate to Australia could be asked to complete a 50 word Dictation Test, in any European language. The stipulation of any European language was used by officials to keep out ‘undesirables’, i.e.: ‘coloured races’. Examples of dictation test passages (in English) are provided in this collection, as well as several CEDTs from Syrian immigrants.

Naturalisation Applications were significantly more common, proportionately, in Syrian immigrants than in other Asian immigrants[1]. Naturalisation requirements differed depending on the state; for example, in NSW after 5 years of living in the colony anyone could apply for naturalisation. Queensland was much stricter; under the Aliens Act 1867 both Asian and African aliens were excluded from naturalisation unless married and living in the colony for a minimum of 3 years, their wife was also required to be currently residing in the colony[2]. Interestingly, there were several conversations in Australian parliament regarding the possibility of extending the privilege of naturalisation specifically to Syrian immigrants[3]. The ‘good behaviour’ and closeness of physical resemblance and religious beliefs were cited as reasons for possibly extending special privileges to Syrian immigrants. There are several examples of naturalisation applications from Syrian immigrants, as well as government responses and queries relating to naturalisation applications, included in this exhibit.

Between 1916 and 1926, during and in the aftermath of World War One, all ‘aliens’ residing in Australia were required to register with the authorities. There are several examples of Syrian Alien Registration documents; these are particularly interesting as they usually included descriptions of physical appearance, current place of residence, nationality, and date of entry into Australia.



[1] Yarwood, Asian Migration, 145.

[2] Aliens Act 1867

[3] Records.nsw.gov.au, “Archives in Brief- Lebanese Migration and Settlement in NSW-State Records NSW” (2003); Mansour, Religion Matters, 98; Yarwood, Asian Migration, 146.

Collection Items

Dictation Test Example Passages 1925
Dictation Test passages; anyone failing to write the passage down could be deported under the Immigration Restriction Act 1901. The test could be given in any European language.

SEDAWIE, Mrs Mary (Syrian) - Application for Certificate of Exemption from Dictation Test
This source includes several documents detailing the process of a successful application for a CEDT, including specific forms and letters of recommendation..

Helen Batrouney applying for a certificate of exemption
A Syrian man is attempting to bring his wife from Syria to Australia with him

Application for Certificate of Exemption from Dictation Test
Syrian woman Mary Sedawie's Application for Certificate from Dictation Test

Richard Homsey - File of Pages
Includes Renunciation of Syrian Nationality, Oath of Allegiance, Application for certificate of Naturalisation, Householders Certificates, Statutory Declaration, Report on Application for Naturalisation and relevant correspondences.

Richard Homsie (Homsey) Application for Naturalisation 29/5/1925
Richard Homsie, 255 Spring Street, Melbourne, rubber worker, Assyrian, 49 years old, 5/6, black hair and eyes.

Born 14th March, 1876 at Assyria Father Assyrian - Abraham Homsie

Arrived from Port Said (Egypt), April 1887 at Port Melbourne…

Chaill Malouf - Naturalization<br /><br />
26th February, 1914
This complete document provides personal information on a Syrian shopkeeper, Chiall Malouf. In turn, this document a strong source for the contextualisation of an immigrant coming to Australia.

Joseph Abood (Naturalization)
Application for certificate of naturalization that details Syrian Joseph Abood's age, job, birthplace, residence at the time of application.

S.M. JABOOR - Naturalisation
A collection of documents comprising the naturalisation application of SM Jaboor, a notable Syrian community leader who assisted in the applications of numerous Syrians after him.

Application for a Certificate of Domicile for John Kmaid
This document consists of a folder containing seven documents. The first document is a cover letter stating the application and the documents that are enclosed. The next four documents are letters from employers and other members of the community…

Form of Application for Registration for Rajoon Abourizk
This document is an application for registration for Rajoon Abourizk. It states that she is from Beyrouth, Syria and entered the commonwealth on the 12th of July 1905 and applied for registration on the 29th of October 1916. The application was…

Antony Mattei (Syrian) Application For Registration
This is an Application for Registration. It includes significant biographical information such as: name, height, eye colour, nationality, birthplace, date of entry into Commonwealth of Australia, current place of residence, etc.

Assif Beshara (Syrian) Application For Registration
This is an Application for Registration form. It includes significant biographical information such as: name, height, eye colour, nationality, birthplace, date of entry into Commonwealth of Australia, current place of residence, etc.

Mellick, Anthony John - Nationality: Syrian [Miscellaneous] - Alien Registration Certificate No 4 issued 31 October 1916 at Emu Park
Here is a certificate of Alien registration issued for a Syrian man who had resided in Australia for 20 years. He is mentioned as having good character

Mary Homsey - Form of Application for Registration
Application form for Mary Homsey, Syrian women living in Melbourne, containing some personal details.

Abrahams, Annie - Nationality: Syrian [Miscellaneous] - Alien Registration Certificate No 183 issued 16 September 1918 at Toowoomba
Registration for Annie Abrahams- it notes that her 'notable marks' are : Five chains with crosses suspended on the back of each hand.

Mary Bishara
A 1916 Application for Registration for Mary Bishara who arrived in Australia from Syria in 1900. Bishara lived in and applied for Registration in Williamstown. The Application for Registration forms were created under the War Precautions (Aliens…

Notice of Change of Abode for Joe Nammar
Joe Nammar, Syrian man applied to change his residence from 509 Elizabeth Street Sydney to 227 Spring Street Melbourne. His profession was a Dealer and the application was made on 5 April 1918.

Incoming passenger list to Fremantle, WA from vessel &quot;Ville de la Ciotat&quot; which arrived 16th December 1911 from Marseilles, France.
Gives details of 5 Syrian passengers (names illegible) arriving in Fremantle, WA, in transit to Sydney, NSW.

Moussa Hanna Fakhry, Syria, Arrival by S. S. &quot;MOERAKI&quot; into Melbourne on 4/2/1926.
Details the arrival of Fakhry back into Melbourne, Australia on the ship "Moeraki". (Readmission to Australia authorised on the 2/9/1925).
Resides at 202 Faraday Street, Carlton.
Unfortunately the Shipping and Migration Return Form was blank.

George Sykeli - Permission to come to Australia
This primary source is a from the Collector of Customs in Melbourne series (B13) from the Victorian Archives. The document states that George Sykeli has been granted permission to enter Australia with his wife and two children. His brother in law…

John Raphael (Syrian) ex &quot;Cephee&quot; July 1928 - Deported per &quot;Eridan&quot; July 1930
This document consists of 17 pages of letters, memoranda and telegrams concerning the decision to deport a Syrian named John Raphael. He had arrived in 1928 and was granted entry, but was subsequently found to have tuberculosis. The Chief Medical…
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