British in Australia
All research and editorial content is developed and curated by ÐßÐßÊÓƵ. Read about our process.
Due to colonial Australia’s beginnings as a penal colony of Britain, British migration has deeply influenced the cultural and social makeup of society. Between 1788 and 1852, around 100,000 (mostly British) convicts were transported to Eastern Australia.1 In the 1850s, large numbers of free British settlers came to Australia to join the gold rush. The population of people born in the United Kingdom outnumbered the number of Australia-born people until 1861, with the total United Kingdom-born population peaking at 825,000 in 1891.1 From then on, there was a continual fall in the proportion of British among all immigrants to Australia.
Following World War II, the post-war immigration program was very effective. British ex-servicemen, selected civilians and their dependents were given free and assisted passage to Australia. Schemes were introduced to incite British migration to Australia, especially in the 1950s. For example, the ‘Bring Out a Briton’ campaign asked employers and organisations to sponsor certain families and aid their settlement.
The United Kingdom-born population remains the largest overseas-born group in Australia, with over a million people recorded in the 2021 census. Australia continues to be the top destination for British emigrants, who are drawn by its employment opportunities, lifestyle, and climate. Due to the colonial ties between the two nations, many UK citizens find Australian culture highly compatible with their own. These cultural similarities generally make it easier for British migrants to adapt, as they do not face the language barriers, challenges, or social isolation that some other migrant groups experience.
Most UK-born people in Australia arrived prior to 2001 and have since gained citizenship.2 The 2021 Census recorded 967,390 UK-born permanent residents in Australia.3 Today, most British migrants gain residency via skilled migration visas, usually through employer sponsorship.4 Some also arrive through family programs (for example, by marrying an Australian). However, the vast majority of British migration is temporary and does not lead to permanent residency.
Each year, Australia welcomes around half a million British visitors, with many extending their stays. Approximately 40,000 are granted working holiday visas, allowing them to live and work in Australia for up to a year. As of 2024, the United Kingdom is Australia’s third-largest source of tourism, with over 520,000 UK visitors arriving on Visitor (Tourism and Business) visas between 2023 and 2024.5