Germans in Australia. 1788 – today (2013)
“Germans in Australia. 1788 – Today”
Special exhibition about 225 years of German immigration to Australia:
Vast landscapes, exotic animals, adventure – this is what most Europeans associate with Australia. Over the past centuries, Germans have repeatedly been drawn to the other side of the world. They emigrated there to work or study, or took a sabbatical. For the first time, the German Emigration Center in Bremerhaven is presenting a special exhibition that depicts the allure Australia has held for Germans over the centuries, what led them there, and what their travel routes looked like.
In most cases, it took 15 long weeks to sail from Bremerhaven to Australia by the mid-19th century. This arduous and often dangerous journey was mostly undertaken by young men dreaming of quick wealth. The gold of the Fifth Continent attracted numerous individuals to the other end of the world starting in 1851. However, academics were also drawn to the little-explored Australia.
German scientists like Ludwig Leichhardt played a crucial role in the mid-19th century in geographically and botanically exploring the land. A hundred years later, German immigration peaked. Craftsmen and skilled workers who saw no future in war-torn Germany arrived.
Even today, Australia continues to have its allure for Germans. Especially young adults explore the continent through “work & travel.” Currently, more than 90 percent of the population living there is of European descent.
Exhibition view “Germans in Australia. 1788 – Today”