Brass ‘White Australia’ protection badge, 1906. The words ‘population’, ‘production’, ‘progress’ and ‘protection’ appear on the other side. National Museum of Australia, White Australia Policy, https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/white-australia-policy [accessed 13 April 2025].
The White Australian Policy was not explicitly stated, but it can be described as a policy that structured immigration legislation in late 19th and early 20th-century Australia.
It was a national policy that aimed to maintain the racial purity of British colonisers, which, therefore, restricted who was allowed to enter the country.
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This was in reaction to a large influx of Chinese immigrants into Australia during the Gold Rush era. ​
This act gave immigration officers the power to issue a 50-word dictation test to any enquiring immigrant in any European language that the immigrant should not be acquainted with.
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The language was at the officer's discretion, which made it very difficult for migrants to pass and therefore allowed to enter the country. The test was administered 1,359 times prior to 1909, with only 52 people granted entry to Australia. After 1909 not a single migrant made to sit the test passed. (Ref 1)
"Australia’s effort to restrict Chinese immigration was distinguished by a number of features but above all its association with nation building"
John Fitzgerald, Big White Lie: Chinese Australians in White Australia (2007)
Further reading
Check out this useful classroom resource by the National Museum of Australia that sensitively explains concepts of racism in the White Australia Policy for you to explore with your students. It looks at primary sources of the material of the Immigration Act of 1901 and the consequential racist policies that were enforced against Chinese immigrants.
Why just white British residents of Hong Kong?
The British authorities of Hong Kong did attempt to evacuate non-white British residents of Hong Kong, but they were blocked by racist immigration policies that prevented them from entering the countries of safety.
White Australian Policy
Immigration Act of 1901
Activity: Could you take a dictation test?
1. Have your students read through the steps of the dictation test on the second page of the document from the National Archives of Australia website.
2. Now have your students look at one of the passages from the source of dictation test examples used by Australian immigration officers from 1936.
3. Ask, Could they complete a dictation test if one of these passages were read aloud in a language they weren't familiar with?
4. Click here for an audio clip of passage no. 32/19. that was used from 1st to 15th of October in 1936 read aloud in French
Without revealing what passage it is, see if students can students who aren't familiar with French can identify which passage is being read from the document
The White Australian Policy in action in the evacuation of Hong Kong
The White Australian Policy can be seen in action when it blocked the Hong Kong governor from appealing to evacuate Chinese women and children to Australia days before the Japanese invasion.
'The colonial government realised that if these charges were left unanswered, they might have a serious effect on the morale of the Eurasian and Chinese populations'
Kent Fedorowich 'The Evacuation of Civilians from Hong Kong and Malaya/Singapore, 1939–42', in A Great Betrayal? The Fall of Singapore Revisited, edited by Farrell Brian and Hunter Sandy (2002), p. 104
Have students read through the telegram conversation between the governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, to the Secretary of State for the colonies requesting for the evacuation of Eurasian women and children.
Primary source: The Telegram communication between Hong Kong Governor Sir Mark Young to the Secretary of State for the colonies.
Telegram No. 1435 sent from Governor (Sir M. Young) to the secretary of state for the colonies on 2nd of December 1941 at 2:45pm.
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‘It is considered political most desirable to give to the chinese population an equal opportunity with Europeans to leave Hong Kong under prevailing conditions. Very grateful if you could waive immigration regulations for those Chinese who wish to go to Singapore. Number will not be alrge and all possible enquiries will be made to ensure that those leaving are reputable end of some financial standing. Grateful for most immediate reply since three ships leave almost immediately.'
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The telegram in response was sent on 3rd of December 12:30am.
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'I have consulted the executive Council who unanimously advise that your request ought not (repeat not) to be accepted. We foresee difficulty and danger in waiving the immigration regulations in favour of any class of Chinese.'
Evacuation: Chinese Families: 1941 Dec. 2–Dec. 16, December 2–16, 1941, TS War and Colonial Department and Colonial Office: Hong Kong, Original Correspondence CO 129/590/1, The National Archives (Kew, United Kingdom), China and the Modern World, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/JYJPRP937654809/CFER?u=univbri&sid=bookmark-CFER&xid=2a7b0c63&pg=1 [accessed 13 April 2025].
Photograph of the civilian evacuation scheme in Britain during the Second World War
The photograph shows children boarding a ship in the first wave of evacuation to Australia under the government scheme, 19 August 1940. ​​
Children from half way around the world were allowed to be evacuated to a place of safety in Australia. Yet, children nearer by in Hong Kong weren't because of a racist immigration policy.
Imperial War Museum, ‘Ministry of Information Second World War Press Agency Print Collection’: IWM (HU 36216) Children embarking on a ship in the first wave of evacuation to Australia under the government scheme, 19 August 1940. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205082278 [Accessed 25 Feburary 2025]
References
1. National Museum of Australia, White Australia Policy https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/white-australia-policy
2. Gale Primary sources Hong Kong, Britain, and China, Part I: 1841-1951. Evacuation: Chinese Families 1941 Dec. 2-Dec. 16 CO 129/590/1 ​