Aussie

On the way from Marrickville station I found a set of Peter Drew’s 2023 Aussie posters. These are photos from files held in the National Archives of people who applied for an exemption from the notorious dictation test, a function of the White Australia Policy designed to keep non-Europeans - including those born here - out of the country until the late 1950s.

L to R: Moolah, 31, who applied to travel to India in 1909 and return without being barred due to his race; Nellie Chan, 26, who applied to travel to China in 1928; Kanichi Shiosaki, 22, who applied to travel to Japan; and, Kishner, 31, who applied in 1909 to travel to India.

Exemptions were granted. The grandparents of family friends visited their ancestral home in China in the late 1930s. Without an exemption they could have been tested in any European language on their return.

Have a great weekend everyone!