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"'Brotherhood was never like it; friendship is not the word; but deep in that body of marching men the soul of a nation stirred" so wrote Banjo Paterson in his poem Australia Today 1916". Australia had only been settled by white Australian's for one hundred and twenty eight years, yet already a strong nationalism had emerged. An Identity. The words larrikin, mateship, courage, egalitatarism, resourcefulness and independence come to mind. Why did Australia develop such a strong image so quickly? |
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THE AUSTRALIAN IDENTITY |
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For the first one third of Australia's history the majority of white Australians were either convicts or the off-spring of one. These people held a strong dislike for authority, which is still present in elements of today's society. There were a couple of reasons for this. Firstly they possibly felt hard done by and also the authoritative figures such as the "Rum Corps" had not really gained their respect as they sometimes corrupt. |
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With the offspring of the transported convicts, known as currency lads and lasses, the national identity first emerged. They were not as amoral as most thought they would be, given that their parents were in the eyes of the British Government, hardened criminals. Visitors to Australia as early as 1830-50 noticed some pecularities to these Australians. "Tall, slender, strong and with a distinctive accent". It was also reported that swearing coloured our conversations. But a feature that struck most visitors was the egalitaranism, the belief that each man was equal. "Jack was as good as his master" This was very unlike Britian. |
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"But a feature that struck most visitors was the egalitaranism, the belief that each man was equal "Jack was as good as his master". |
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With the gold rushes of the 1850's the emerging national identity was stiffled. A flood of new immigrants arrived, from places as diverse as USA and China, but they were mostly British and still considered Britain as home. But on the gold fields the belief that all men were equal was strengthened. On the gold fields your chances of finding gold was not determined on who you were, on the gold fields many poor people became rich. |
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In the 1860's and 1870's the national feeling was associated mainly with the Bushrangers. Most bushrangers were native born or of Irish descent. Again the strong dislike of authority emerges. The bushrangers were admired because they defied authorities and at times made them look stupid. They were held up as symbols against Britain and the government. They were also thought to be courageous and patriotic. Bushrangers were as romantised then as they are today. |
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By the 1880's three quarters of Australia's population had been born in Australia. This is an important cause of nationalism, you feel Australian because you were born here, unlike previous generations, where the majority were born in other countries. In the 1890's the increase in nationalism continued. Australian artists such as Tom Roberts, Charles Condor, Hans Heysen and Arthur Streeton began to paint Australian images. They helped create the Australian Bush Legend, as a resourceful, independent man who trusted only his mates. This image appealed. Poets and writers too, such as Banjo Patterson's The Man from Snowy River, helped further fuel this image of Australians. |
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During the 1880's people begain to push for an United Australia, believing that they were Australian, not Victorian's, Queenslanders etc. The Irish too were keen to establish a United Australia out of hate of the British. The media soon joined in. "The Bulletin" believed in 'A republican form of Government with no ties whatsoever with Great Britain ' (we are still waiting for that). On January 1st, 1901 the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. |
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In 1914 Britian declared war on Germany, Australia for the first time fought as a nation, not states. This evoked a sense of pride in all Australians. On the battlefelds in Turkey and in France too the Australian identity further emerged. Courage on the fields at Gallipoli, resourcefulness, mateship, independence and egalitarianism, the Australian soldiers were noted for not showing the British Officers the respect that the officers felt they should be treated with, this was in part due to the belief that 'Jack was as good as his master". The Australian soldier served Australia proudly and with their return to Australian shores came the recognition that Australian was at last a nation. |
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The Soul of a Nation, The Australian Identity had evolved. This dislike of authority, the belief in egalitarianism, independence, resourcefulness, courage and mateship all are traits of the Australian Identity, all necessary for Australia to emerge from the shadows of a gaol to become a nation. |
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