Turkish in Australia
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Migration History
There was very little Turkish migration to Australia before the 20th century. Following World War I, Turks in Australia could be interned as ‘enemy aliens’ due to their country’s alliance in the war. The and the 1920 Enemy Aliens Act limited further Turkish migration for many decades.
Significant migration formally began in 1967, after the Australian and Turkish governments agreed to assist the migration of people from Türkiye to Australia to live and work. This was the first instance in which Australia signed an Assisted Passage agreement with a country outside Western Europe. Many of the Turks who took advantage of the opportunity to migrate to Australia intended to be non-permanent migrant workers and sent remittances back to their families. However, many (if not most) of these workers ended up staying in Australia permanently and sought to move their families over as well. Family reunification has been the main reason for immigration since 1974, with arrivals remaining consistent.
Demographics
Today, the Turkish Australian community is largely composed of well-established families who have been living in Australia for over a decade. According to the 2021 census, 38,568 Australian residents were born in Türkiye, roughly half of whom reside in Victoria. In addition, approximately 87,164 people claim Turkish ancestry, reflecting the presence of second-generation migrants born in Australia. This figure also includes Turkish speakers from Northern Cyprus. Children of Turkish migrants are often raised speaking Turkish as a second language at home.
Experience in Australia
The settlement experience for many of the first generation of arrivals was complicated by the fact that they had originally viewed their migration to Australia as temporary and intended to eventually return to Türkiye. Therefore, some did not learn the language or set deep roots in Australia (e.g. by buying property). As a result, some older Turks may not speak English well and may be more socially or culturally isolated than the younger generation.
As the first ‘Asian’, non-Christian and non-European immigrants to settle in Australia in large numbers, many Turks were met with hostility from the Australian public in the 1960s and '70s. Some Turks also report early friendships being tainted by Türkiye and Australia's crossfire at Gallipoli during World War I. However, today the Turkish community reports broad social acceptance from the Australian community. Turkish culture is preserved and supported by many organisations in Australia, such as the Australian Turkish Cultural Association, soccer clubs, religious groups and political associations.