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Tongan Australians (Tongan: kau ʻAositelēlia Tonga) are Australians who are of ethnic Tongan descent or Tongans who hold Australian citizenship.

Background

According to the 2011 Australian census 10,560 Australians were born in Tonga, while 25,096 claimed Tongan ancestry. In 2006, 18,426 claimed Tongan ancestry, either alone or with another ancestry.

History

Tongans were historically subject to the White Australia policy. In 1948, Akanesi Carrick – a cousin of Queen Sālote – and her two children were deported from Australia because of their race, despite being married to a British subject, Stewart Carrick. A Tongan man was deported from Australia in January 1975 because he had entered the country by "posing as a Maori". A decade later, another Tongan man sued the Australian Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs for racial discrimination, alleging the department was targeting Pacific Islanders in its administration of immigration law.

Population

Tongan migrants to Australia have tended to make their homes in the "arrival city" suburbs of Sydney's west. This pattern began in the 1970s, intensified in the 1980s, and continues today. However, Tongans aren't exclusively settling in Western Sydney and actually widespread all over Sydney. There are Tongan communities on the Northshore areas of Sydney, such as the Northern beaches, Hornsby & Ryde area, South Sydney & the Eastern Suburbs. As of 2011, over 60% of Tongan-born Australians live in the state of New South Wales.

The 2006 Australian census recorded that the majority of the Tongan Australians (4920 people) live in New South Wales, followed by Victoria (with 1190 people) and Queensland (1090).

Despite there being relatively few Australians of Tongan descent, Tongan Australians have excelled in the football codes of Rugby league and Rugby Union as evidenced by the list of notable Tongan Australians which include:

• Israel Folau, tri-code footballer and dual code international, being a Queensland State of Origin and Australian international Rugby League representative, AFL convert with GWS, and most recently Rugby Union convert and Australian international Rugby Union representative with the NSW Waratahs Super Rugby club.
• Gorden Tallis, former Brisbane Broncos captain, and Queensland State of Origin and Australian International representative in Rugby League
• Viliami Ofahengaue, affectionately known as Willie O, former Wallaby number eight and Flanker with 41 caps between 1990 and 1998, including the 1991 and 1995 World Cups.

Notable Tongan Australians

• Israel Folau
• David Rodan
• Rodney Blake
• Adam Coleman
• Jim Dymock
• Anthony Fainga'a
• Saia Fainga'a
• Andrew Fifita
• Mahe Fonua
• Tyson Frizell
• Mark Gerrard
• Solomon Haumono
• John Hopoate
• William Hopoate
• Michael Jennings
• Toutai Kefu
• Brent Kite
• Tony Williams
• Leilani Latu
• Hau Latukefu
• Uli Latukefu
• Soni Luke
• Willie Manu
• Willie Mason
• Feleti Mateo
• Viliami Ofahengaue
• Wycliff Palu
• Tevita Pangai Junior
• Mosese Pangai
• Tatafu Polota-Nau
• George Smith
• Scott Sorensen
• Willie Tonga
• Mahe Fonua
• Anthony Tupou
• Jorge Taufua
• Moses Suli
• Manase Fainu
• Brenko Lee
• Tevita Funa
• Haumole Olakauatu
• Kelepi Tanginoa
• Siosaia Vave
• Tony Satini
• Michael Oldfield
• David Fifita
• John Asiata
• Hame Sele
• Keaon Koloamatangi
• Tevita Tatola
• Siosifa Talakai
• Robert Jennings
• George Jennings
• Manase Manuokafoa
• John Folau
• Vai Toutai
• Jim Dymock
• Esikeli Tonga
• Richard Fa'aoso
• Sione Masima
• Taniela Lasalo
• Pat Politoni
• Atelea Vea
• Andrew Emelio
• Samisoni Langi
• Mickey Paea
• Danny Fualalo
• Asipele Fine
• Andrew Tangata-Toa
• Jamil Hopoate
• David Hala
• Andrew Lomu
• Tevita Metuisela
• Sione Kite
• Lelea Paea
• Vika Bull
• Linda Bull
• Mata Hiliau

See also

• Tongan New Zealanders
• Australia–Tonga relations

References

1. "Australia: Birthplace". IDCommunity. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
2. "Community information summary 2016" (XLS). Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2020. (table 9.1 of downloadable XL file: "Estimated resident population, Country of birth, State/territory, Age and sex - 30 June 2011")
3. "Migration, Australia, 2011-12 and 2012-13" (XLS). Australian Bureau of Statistics. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013. (table 9.1 of downloadable XL file: "Estimated resident population, Country of birth, State/territory, Age and sex - 30 June 2011")
4. "20680-Ancestry (full classification list) by Sex - Australia" (Microsoft Excel download). 2006 census. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 23 January 2013. Total responses: 25,451,383 for total count of persons: 19,855,288.
5. "Wife from Tonga and children to go". Daily News. 9 April 1948.
6. Hamer, Paul (27 August 2015). "'Unsophisticated and unsuited'". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
7. "2016 Census QuickStats Robinvale". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
8. "Pacific destiny on different shore". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 December 2011.
9. ^ "Community Information Summary: Tonga-born" (PDF). Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2015.

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• Polynesian diaspora in Australia
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