Since European settlement of Australia began in 1788 more migrants have come from Great Britain to settle in Australia than from any other country.
Prior to Federation in 1901 each colony administered its own immigration programs. All encouraged migration from Great Britain under schemes designed to fill gaps in the population or labour force. While Federation provided the Commonwealth government with the power to make laws in relation to immigration, programs for British migration often involved both the Commonwealth and state governments. From 1920 many of these programs, although in receipt of Commonwealth funding, were administered by the state governments. Most case files for migrants who settled under these schemes, or who arrived in Australia before 1901, were maintained by the state (or colony) to which the person migrated and – if they have survived – will be held by the respective state government archives. Addresses for these institutions are provided in Fact Sheet 2 – Addresses of other archival institutions for contact details.
Many policy and general files relating to these programs and which include the names of migrants,, as well as some individual case files, are held in Canberra. Many other records relating to British migrants, including passenger lists and naturalisation files, are also held by the National Archives.
The Group Settlement scheme was designed to increase the population in sparsely settled rural areas while also providing work for migrants as farm labours. Migrants were settled in groups on rural blocks and provided with equipment and funds to establish a viable farm. Records held by the National Archives include many policy and administrative files of the agency responsible for the scheme – the Prime Minister’s Department Development Branch – mainly in series A786. These records include case files for a small number of group settlers, and files that include information on specific farms.
Pensions for British ex-servicemen and women who later became residents of Australia were administered by the Australian Government. The Canberra office holds case files for individual servicemen in the series listed below. Relevant series are also held by our other offices. Please note that access to these files is generally only granted to the subjects themselves or their direct descendants.
Selection documents for British people who migrated to Australia under assisted passage schemes after 1950 are held in series A1877. All items in this series are individually listed on the RecordSearch database, available in all reading rooms and on our website. See Fact Sheet 66 – Migrant selection documents held in Canberra for further information.
 | Group settlement–WA | 1921–34 | A786, X22/5 Part 1 | ||
| Group settlement–WA | 1921–34 | A786, X22/5 Part 3 | ||
| Miscellanea of the Development Branch | 1922–35 | CP272/4, bundle 1 | ||
| Land settlement– Victoria | 1926–31 | A786, J22/2 Part 2 | ||
| Land settlement– Victoria | 1926–31 | A786, J22/2 Part 4 | ||
| Group settlement–WA – Cattlerick settlers | 1929–30 | A786, AC22/5 | ||
| Group settlement– WA – Valuation Board reports | 1948–51 | A786, AE22/5 | ||
| Group settlements– individual complaints (69 files) | 1927–35 | A786, 61/2 | ||
| Group settlements– individual adjustments (12 files) | 1933–35 | A786, 62/1 | ||
 | British pensions–1914–18 war | 1923–ongoing | A2808 | ||
| British pensions– 1939–45 war | 1940–ongoing | A2809 | ||
| British pensions–merchant seamen– 1939–45 war | 1940–ongoing | A2810 | ||
| British pensions– civilians–1939–45 war | 1943–73 | A2811 | ||
| British pensions– Commonwealth Relations Office– 1939–45 war | 1954–73 | A2812 | ||
| British pensions– Admiralty–1939–45 war | 1954–73 | A2813 | ||
| British pensions– Air Ministry– 1939–45 war | 1954–73 | A2814 | ||
| British pensions– War Office– 1939–45 war | 1954–73 | A2815 | ||
| British pensions– Crown agent– 1939–45 war | 1954–73 | A2816 | ||
| British migrant selection documents–Commonwealth nominees | 1950–73 | A1877 | ||
| British migrant selection documents–professionals | 1963–65 | AA1969/343 | ||
Prior to 26 January 1949, the process of naturalisation conferred British nationality on applicants. Residents of British (or naturalised British) status were therefore not required to seek naturalisation in order to become Australian citizens. As a consequence there are no naturalisation records for British migrants before 1949.
The concept of a separate Australian nationality was only recognised when naturalisation legislation was amended on 26 January 1949. After this date British migrants who wished to become Australian citizens were required to apply for naturalisation. Records are held for British people who applied for Australian citizenship after January 1949. See Fact Sheet 68 – Naturalisation records held in Canberra for further information
Migration of children, usually under schemes such as Dr Barnardo’s, Big Brother or Fairbridge Farm Schools, was also actively encouraged. Details of records relating to child migrants are included in Fact Sheet 124 – Child migration to Australia.
Other sources of information on British migrants are passenger lists and migrant selection documents. See:
You can obtain more information about the record series listed above (and the items within the series) from RecordSearch, the Archives database. Follow the links in the series lists to go directly to information on that series. You can also use RecordSearch to find out about the agencies that created the records and to locate more records on your subject. You might also explore PhotoSearch to find out if there are photos pertaining to your subject.
RecordSearch and PhotoSearch are available online or in all Archives reading rooms. Reference staff are available in the reading rooms to help you, or email ref@naa.gov.au.
Comments or other feedback can be sent to archives@naa.gov.au
updated May 2005