Tongan Australians
| Total population | |
|---|---|
|
(Tongan 25,096 (by ancestry, 2011)[1] 10,560 (by birth, 2011).[2] ) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne | |
| Languages | |
| English, Tongan | |
| Religion | |
| Christian | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Tongans |
Tongan Australians are Australians who are of ethnic Tongan descent or Tonga-born people.
Background
According to the 2011 Australian census 10,560 Australians were born in Tonga, while 25,096 claimed Tongan ancestry.[2] In 2006, 18,426 claimed Tongan ancestry, either alone or with another ancestry.[1]
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.[3] As of 2011, over 60% of Tongan-born Australians live in the state of New South Wales.[4]
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).[5]
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
- Rodney Blake
- Jim Dymock
- Anthony Fainga'a
- Saia Fainga'a
- Andrew Fifita
- Israel Folau
- Mahe Fonua
- Tyson Frizell
- Mark Gerrard
- Solomon Haumono
- John Hopoate
- William Hopoate
- Michael Jennings
- Toutai Kefu
- Brent Kite
- Hau Latukefu
- Willie Manu
- Willie Mason
- Feleti Mateo
- Viliami Ofahengaue
- Wycliff Palu
- George Smith
- Gorden Tallis
- Willie Tonga
- Anthony Tupou
Notes
- 1 2 "20680-Ancestry (full classification list) by Sex - Australia" (Microsoft Excel download). 2006 census. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2013-01-23. Total responses: 25,451,383 for total count of persons: 19,855,288.
- 1 2 "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")
- ↑ "Pacific destiny on different shore". Sydney Morning Herald.
- ↑ https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/02_2014/tonga.pdf
- ↑ "Community Information Summary - Tonga-born" (pdf download). 2006 census. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2013-01-23.