"Sikhism IN AUSTRALIA"
Sikhism is a small but growing minority religion in Australia, that can trace its origins in the nation to the 1830s. The Sikhs form one of the largest subgroups of Indian Australians with 72,000 adherents according to the 2011 census.[1]Having grown from 12,000 in 1996, 17,000 in 2001 and 26,500 in 2006.[2][3]Most adherents can trace their ancestry back to the Punjab region of South Asia, which is currently divided between India and Pakistan.
History
A study of DNA has found that Indian people may have come to Australia around 4000 years ago.[6] Indian immigration began early in colonial history. The first Indians arrived in Australia with the British who had been living in India.[7] From the 1860s, Indians (Sikh), 'Afghans' and Pacific Islanders were recruited as workers in rural and northern outback Australia. Many 'Afghans' actually came from India (as well as Iran, Egypt and Turkey). They were loosely called 'Afghans' due to their similar dress because mostly Sikh wear the turban, and they worked as cameleers to operate camel trains throughout outback Australia, as 'pioneers of the inland'.[8] As well as labourers and domestic help, Australia's early Indian population also found work as hawkers. The 1881 census records 998 people who were born in India but this had grown to over 1700 by 1891.[7]
Migration from India was curtailed after the Australian Government introduced the Immigration Restriction Act 1901, but following India's independence from Britain in 1947, the number of Anglo-Indians and Indian-born British citizens immigrating to Australia increased.[9][10]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Indian Australians 295,362 (by birth)[1] 390,894 (by ancestry)[1] 1.9% of the Australian population (2011)[2] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Victoria | 111,787[1] |
| New South Wales | 95,387[1] |
| Queensland | 30,259[1] |
| Languages | |
| Religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
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