| Total population | |||
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| 50,000 [1] | |||
| Regions with significant populations | |||
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Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic, Evangelical and Protestant |
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| Related ethnic groups | |||
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Armenian groups |
The Armenian diaspora in Australia has become one of the key Armenian diasporas around the world and amongst the largests in the English world. While the Armenian community in Australia is amongst the youngest of all diasporas, Australia’s economic prosperity over the past decade has attracted a large number of skilled Armenian migrants. The official relationship between Australia and Armenia started on 26 December 1991, and diplomatic relations were established on 15 January 1992.[2]
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Brief overview
The influx of Armenians into Australia has come from many different Diaspora countries; these countries include Armenia, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Turkey and India[2]. In the mid 1800's a group of Armenians settled in the south-western region of Victoria which then became the City of Ararat in search of valuable commodities such as gold.
Today the Austral-Armenian community includes members born in up to and over 43 different countries. The estimated Armenian community size is about 50,000 mostly residing in Sydney, with about 8,000 in Melbourne. The main concentration of Armenians in Sydney are in the City of Ryde (12,000 - 15,000) followed by City of Willoughby [1] and City of Warringah. Smaller communities exist in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. Australians of Armenian heritage are well known in Sydney and now hold an annual festival in the CBD each year which attracts over 25,000 visitors and is the second largest cultural festival behind the Greek festival.
Increasingly Australians of Armenian heritage are being recognized for their success in Politics, Banking & Finance and Law. Armenians of Australia are exceptionally well regarded and recognized in the Jewelry industry and many avenues of trade.
Below are some of the operating organisations within the Armenian Australian community:
- Armenian General Benevolent Union
- SBS Armenian Radio[3]
- Armenian Chamber of Commerce in Australia[4]
- Social Democratic Hunchakian Party[5]
- Homenetmen Australia[6]
- Hye Hoki[7]
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
- Armenian Youth Federation of Australia[8]
- Hamazkayin Regional Committee breaking down into sub-divisions/committees.[9][10]
- Armenian National Committee of Australia[11]
Cultural centers
In Sydney there are several main cultural centers to which Armenians gather, one located in Willoughby, New South Wales named the Armenian Cultural Centre and another located in Bonnyrigg, New South Wales[12] named the Armenian Cultural Panoyan Centre, and smaller Cultural Centres in Neutral Bay, Ryde, New South Wales, Frenchs Forest (Ararat Reserve) and Naremburn, Sydney. Melbourne also has several cultural centres.
Education
Armenian is an accepted language in the NSW HSC also known as Armenian Continuers the course is taught at Saturday schools or as a subject at full time Armenian schools.
Armenian Schooling has become stronger throughout the Australian community with 3 fulltime schools operating in sydney, these are:
- Hamazkaine Arshak & Sophie Galstauan School[13]
- St Gregory's Armenian School[14]
- A.G.B.U. Alexander Primary School[15]
Alongside which a number of Saturday schools operate as listed below:
- Toumanian Armenian Saturday School[10]
- A.G.B.U. Alexander Primary School[15]
- Tarkmanchatch Armenian Saturday School
- Serop Papazian Armenian Saturday School
Religion
The most prominent church in the Armenian community in Australia and throughout the world [16] is the Armenian Apostolic Church, lead by Archbishop Aghan Baliozian who is the Primate of the Australian and New Zealand Armenian Apostolic churches. Catholicism led by Father Parsegh (Basil) Sousanian is also a part of Austral-Armenian religions alongside the Armenian Evangelical Church. Also part of the Armenia-linked religion evident in Australia is the newly founded Armenian Brotherhood Bible Church of Australia also known as the Armenian Brotherhood Holy Trinity Church.[17]
- The Armenian Apostolic Church is located in Chatswood, New South Wales[18].
- The Armenian Catholic Church can located in Lidcombe, New South Wales[19].
- The Armenian Evangelical Church can located in Willoughby, New South Wales.
- The Armenian Brotherhood Bible Church is located in Davidson, New South Wales[20].
Notable Armenian Australians
The Austral Armenian community has shaped many notable figure throughout the community which have become key members who shape the identity of Armenians in Australia. Below are a few of these members.
- Joe Hockey (Family Name "Hokeidonian") - Member of Federal Parliament Shadow Treasurer
- Gladys Berejiklian- Member of Parliament, Shadow Minister for Transport, Shadow Minister for Citizenship.[21]
- Clr Sarkis Yedelian- Deputy Mayor of Ryde, New South Wales.[22]
- Archbishop Aghan Baliozian- Primate of Australian and New Zealand Armenian Apostolic Church.[23]
- Vic Darchinyan - IBO Super flyweight world title holder
- George Donikian - Network Ten news presenter
- Brian Goorjian - Regarded as Australia's most successful basketball coach
- Slava Grigoryan - classical guitarist, two time ARIA winner
- Yurik Sarkisian - Two time World Champion Weightlifter, set 17 world records during his career
- Michael Carapiet - Executive Director of Macquarie Bank residing in Sydney
- Stephan Kerkysharian - Chairman of the NSW Ethnic Affairs
- Zareh Nalbandian - Co-founder of Animal Logic , creator of "Happy Feet"
- Artin Etmekjian - Councillor - City of Ryde
References
- ^ Armenian National Committee of Australia
- ^ a b Armenia Country Brief
- ^ SBS Radio - Armenian
- ^ Armenian Chamber of Commerce in Australia Website
- ^ Social Democrat Hunchakian Party
- ^ Homenetmen Australia Regional Website
- ^ Hye Hoki
- ^ AYF.ORG > Home
- ^ Hamazkaine Arshak & Sophie Galstaun School
- ^ a b Hamazkaine Nairi Chapter & Homenetmen Ararat Branch - Home
- ^ Armenian National Committee of Australia
- ^ Armenian Info & Portal Web Site
- ^ HASG_NewsEvents
- ^ St Gregory's Armenian School, K-12 Primary and High School, Sydney, Australia
- ^ a b Saturday School
- ^ Armenians#Religion
- ^ 1266.0 - Australian Standard Classification of Religious Groups (ASCRG), 1996
- ^ CNEWA – The Armenian Apostolic Church
- ^ Our Lady of the Assumption - Armenian Catholic Church - Sydney Australia
- ^ This page contains addresses of all Armenian Brotherhood Churches Around the World
- ^ Ms Gladys BEREJIKLIAN, BA, DIntS, MCom MP - NSW Parliament
- ^ Sarkis Yedelian
- ^ Aghan Baliozian - Armeniapedia.org
External links
- http://www.agbu.org.au
- http://www.anc.org.au
- http://www.armenianchamber.com.au
- http://www.armenian.org.au/
- http://www.homenetmen.com.au/
- http://www.ararat.org.au/
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