Norwegian Australians

Norwegian Australians (Norskaustraliere) are Australian citizens of Norwegian ancestry. The majority of these people were part of the Norwegian diaspora.

History
An organised European immigration to Australia was initiated in 1788. Most of the early emigrants were deported from Britain to the "Penal Colony". The most famous was probably Knud Geelmuyden Bull (1811 - 1889), from Bergen, a painter and forger of coins who was deported to Hobart, Tasmania.

Organised emigration began with a single person in 1867, two the next year and 15 emigrants in 1869. There was a strong percentage growth, with 50 in 1870, 221 in 1871, 784 in 1872, 354 in 1873, 36 in 1874, 76 in 1875 and 42 in 1876, about 1500 in total. In 1880, a further 595 Norwegians emigrated to Australia.

In 2008, 800 people celebrated the Norwegian Constitution Day in Brisbane. The 17 May celebrations in Brisbane have in recent years been considered to be the largest celebration of the Norwegian national day in the southern hemisphere.

Students
Australia is one of the most popular countries for Norwegian students.

Half of the Norwegian students in Australia and New Zealand are members of ANSA — the Association of Norwegian Students Abroad. The Norwegian Embassy in Canberra cooperates closely with ANSA Australia, and has for instance its own column in ANSA Australia's magazine "ANZA".