An Excess of Paperwork
Title
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.
Collection Items
Dictation Test Example Passages 1925
SEDAWIE, Mrs Mary (Syrian) - Application for Certificate of Exemption from Dictation Test
Helen Batrouney applying for a certificate of exemption
Application for Certificate of Exemption from Dictation Test
Richard Homsey - File of Pages
Richard Homsie (Homsey) Application for Naturalisation 29/5/1925
Born 14th March, 1876 at Assyria Father Assyrian - Abraham Homsie
Arrived from Port Said (Egypt), April 1887 at Port Melbourne…
Chaill Malouf - Naturalization
26th February, 1914
Joseph Abood (Naturalization)
S.M. JABOOR - Naturalisation
Application for a Certificate of Domicile for John Kmaid
Form of Application for Registration for Rajoon Abourizk
Antony Mattei (Syrian) Application For Registration
Assif Beshara (Syrian) Application For Registration
Mellick, Anthony John - Nationality: Syrian [Miscellaneous] - Alien Registration Certificate No 4 issued 31 October 1916 at Emu Park
Mary Homsey - Form of Application for Registration
Abrahams, Annie - Nationality: Syrian [Miscellaneous] - Alien Registration Certificate No 183 issued 16 September 1918 at Toowoomba
Mary Bishara
Notice of Change of Abode for Joe Nammar
Incoming passenger list to Fremantle, WA from vessel "Ville de la Ciotat" which arrived 16th December 1911 from Marseilles, France.
Moussa Hanna Fakhry, Syria, Arrival by S. S. "MOERAKI" into Melbourne on 4/2/1926.
Resides at 202 Faraday Street, Carlton.
Unfortunately the Shipping and Migration Return Form was blank.