Immigration has played an important role in the growth and development of Melbourne. The first immigrants to the area were Anglo-Celtic. They came from England, Scotland and Ireland. When gold was struck in 1850 the first population boom occurred. People came from all over the world in order to find their fortune. The population began to grown in Melbourne. By 1901 the population of Melbourne was 478,000 people.
The next phase of immigration occurred after World War II and this immigration has shaped Melbourne's current development. The Australian government encouraged immigration because they felt an increase in population would strengthen the economy and allow them to better defend themselves. From 1947-1971 there was 56.3 net overseas migration to Melbourne. A majority of these immigrants were Jewish and survivors of the holocaust. Greek, Italian and Jewish also made up the majority of the immigrants while other immigrants came from Turkey, Malta, Lebanon, Poland and Yugoslavia. By 1976 a fifth of the city population spoke a language other than England.
From the mid 1970 and into the 1980 there have been many people from South East Asia. Many refuges have come from Vietnam and Cambodia. In the 1991 census it was calculated that six percent of the population was from Britian or Ireland. Three percent were Italian. Almost two percent Yugoslavian and Greek. Only sixty-eight percent of the city was Australian.
Melbourne has a strong cultural melting pot. Many of the different ethnic groups have their own sections in Metropolitan Melbourne. There is a China Town which is located on Little Bourke Street. Carlton is known for its Italian population and St. Kilda for its Jewish population. Richmond is known for its Greek population, Brunswick for its Turkish population and Fitzroy is known for both its Greeks and Spanish population. This interesting mix of people makes for many great cultural events that occur throughout the year. But even though these people come from different backgrounds by the time the second generation is born they are proud to be Australians.
The current immigration policy allows about 800,000 people in a year. To come to Australia one must have skills, qualifications and abilities that are in demand, capital and business expertise, close family ties or refugee/humanitarian needs.