Migration to Britain and Australia since 1945 – origins, laws and trade
History20th Century & TodayAges 14–15
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Sign in to playCensus maps show where people living in England and Wales and in Australia were born, from the first post-war censuses to 2021, with the change between censuses. Students follow the laws and events that opened or restricted entry – from Windrush and the Commonwealth Immigrants Acts to the end of the White Australia policy and refugee intakes – read about the experiences and contributions of each group, and compare how each country's trade partners changed.
Lesson: Post-war migration to Britain and Australia: Commonwealth migration, the end of the White Australia policy, multiculturalism and changing trade links
What it shows
After 1945 both Britain and Australia needed workers. Britain first let Commonwealth citizens settle freely, then restricted entry with the Commonwealth Immigrants Acts of 1962 and 1968, the Immigration Act 1971 and the British Nationality Act 1981, while European membership brought free movement until 2020. Australia set out to 'populate or perish', assisted British and European migrants, and dismantled the White Australia policy between 1966 and 1973, later taking refugees and skilled migrants from Asia. The simulation uses rounded census counts of people born abroad, so changes between censuses are only a rough guide to arrivals.
How to use
Drag Year or press Play, and choose a Country. Origins by census shows where people born abroad came from; set Show to Change since previous census to see which groups grew. Click a circle to read about a group. Laws and events lists the policies and experiences; click a ◆ under the chart to read one. Trade partners compares export markets by decade.
Parameters you can change
- Year shown on the timeline 1945–2021 year
- Country Britain (England and Wales), Australia
- Map layer Origins by census, Laws and events, Trade partners
- Measure People born abroad, Change since previous census
- Timeline speed 1–10 years/second
Questions to explore
- How did the Commonwealth Immigrants Acts of 1962 and 1968 change who could settle in Britain?
- Why did more of Australia's migrants come from Asia after 1973, and how did its trade partners change?
- What experiences and contributions of migrant groups can you find for both countries?
