Scots Down Under: The Legacy of Scottish Australians

Australia, often referred to as the "Land Down Under," boasts a vibrant and diverse cultural landscape shaped by the myriad of immigrant communities that have contributed to its rich heritage. Among these communities, the Scottish Australians stand out as a distinctive and influential group, weaving their traditions, customs, and indomitable spirit into the fabric of Australian society.

The first wave of Scottish immigrants arrived with the First Fleet in 1788. Within the fleet of 11 ships to embark from Portsmouth in 1787 were approximately 1,420 passengers with around 1,373 reaching Sydney Cove in January 1788. The passengers included a mix of convicts, marines, sailors, civil officers and free settlers. On their arrival a new penal colony became the first British settlement in Australia.

The convicts on board had engaged in a range of criminal activities such as theft, perjury, fraud, assault, and robbery. As a consequence, they received diverse sentences, with many initially facing the death penalty, which was then changed to transportation as punishment for durations of 7 years, 14 years, or for the entirety of their natural lives! To oversee the new penal colony, four marine companies willingly offered their services. These marines formed the New South Wales Marine Corps, led by Major Robert Ross (also a Scot), with a detachment accompanying each convict transport.

Between 1793 & 1795 political prisoners who went on to be known as the 'Scottish Martyrs' were also transported but one called Thomas Muir caused a commotion in 1796 when he managed to escape imprisonment. He captured the imagination of our very own Rabbie Burns and is said to have inspired some of his poetry.

In the late 18th century the majority of immigrants were 'free settler' Lowlanders from prominent wealthy families, many drawn to Australia by the prospects of trade. There were also several Scottish regiments record at this time including Macquarie's unit or the 73rd Regiment, the Royal North British Fusiliers, and the King's Own Scottish Borderers.

In the mid 19th century the combination of the Highland Potato Famine, Highland Clearances, Lowland Clearances and the Australian Gold Rush contributed to huge waves of Scottish migration. In the 1850s alone 90,000 Scots immigrated!

A steady rate of Scottish immigration continued into the 20th century, with substantial numbers of Scots continuing to arrive.

During the 1920s and 1930s, the majority of Scottish migrants in Australia established their homes in Victoria and New South Wales. With many migrants at this time having an urban working-class background the trend was to settle predominantly in industrial portside suburbs. Melbourne and Sydney emerged as key destinations, where the Scots made significant contributions to the flourishing shipbuilding industry.

Queensland State Archives drew on its vast collection of documents and images to tell the history of Scots in Queensland in the short video below.

According to the 2021 Australian census, 130,060 Australian residents were born in Scotland, but a staggering 2,176,777 claimed Scottish ancestry, some in combination with another ancestry. This equates to 8.6% of the Australia population, a sharp rise from the same figures in 2001 which were 540,046 and only 2.9%.

However, historically this percentage appears to have peaked in the mid 19th century when the Scots accounted for 20-25% of the total population at that time and in some regions of Australia such as Western Victoria & Adelaide this figure was closer to 50%!

Major General Lachlan Macquarie's was born on the island of Ulva off the coast of the Isle of Mull, a part of the Scottish Inner Hebrides. His family connections are deeply rooted in Scottish heritage, as he belonged to the Clan MacQuarrie. Notably, his mother and the last Chief of Clan MacQuarrie were half-cousins, both sharing Lachlan MacQuarrie, the 14th Chief, as their grandfather, albeit descending from different wives. The clan historically owned the islands of Ulva, Staffa, and Gometra, as well as extensive lands on the Isle of Mull.

He is frequently acknowledged as the "father of Australia" due to his pivotal role in transforming the fledgling penal colony of New South Wales into a thriving and respectable settlement during his time as Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821. Macquarie implemented far-reaching reforms, both socially and economically, that laid the foundation for Australia's development. He encouraged immigration, fostered infrastructure development with the construction of roads, bridges, and public buildings, he also played a crucial role in establishing a more inclusive society. His policies aimed at rehabilitating convicts, providing opportunities for freed settlers, and fostering economic growth earned him recognition for shaping Australia's early identity and progress.

He was also responsible in adopting the name "Australia" for the continent, a term initially proposed by the renowned navigator Matthew Flinders. The attribution of the name "Australia" is intimately linked to Macquarie, who used it in an official communication in 1817. In addition to many geographical features named in his honour, various Australian institutions, including Sydney's Macquarie University, also bear his name as a mark of recognition. Macquarie's remarkable career saw him ascend the military ranks, achieving the titles of Colonel in 1810, Brigadier-General in 1811, and Major-General in 1813, all while serving as governor.

Following his passing, Macquarie was laid to rest in a mausoleum on the Isle of Mull, near Salen, alongside his wife, daughter, and son. The National Trust of Australia preserves the grave, aptly inscribed "The Father of Australia."

In the following video Scottish history tour guide Bruce Fummey, takes us to on an adventure by boat from Mainland Scotland to the mausoleum on the Isle of Mull to summarise his incredible story.

The list of Notable and Famous Scottish Australians is an impressive one, so long in fact we won't name them all but let's start with the four Prime Ministers either born in Scotland or claiming Scottish Heritage.

Reid was born on 25 February 1845 in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland. He and his family immigrated to Australia while he was young, first to Melbourne and then moving to Sydney.

He became the fourth prime minister of Australia in 1904 and went on to become Australia's first High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in London by 1910. He died suddenly in London on 12 September 1918 and is buried in Putney Vale Cemetery.

Born on the 29th August 1862 in Ayrshire, Fisher emigrated to Australia in 1885 alongside his younger brother. They arrived in Brisbane on the 17th August 1885 having spent two long months travelling by steamship from London. It's said that Fisher never lost his original accent and retained a thick Scottish "brogue" for the rest of his life. He served as the fifth prime minister of Australia over three terms in 1908-1909, 1910 - 1913 and finally 1914-1915.

He remained an important figure, taking on the role as Australia's second High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1916 - 1921. A year later he and his wife moved to London to be closer to their children and saw out the rest of their lives there. He and George Reid are the Australian Prime Ministers to both begin and end their lives outside Australia.

Robert Gordon Menzies was born on 20 December 1894 in Jeparit, Victoria. His paternal grandfather, also named Robert Menzies, hailed from Renfrewshire, Scotland, and made his way to Melbourne in 1854. Menzies was proud of his Scottish Heritage and preferred his surname to be pronounced in the traditional Scottish way which sounds more like MING-iss rather than MEN-zeez, this led to him gaining the nickname "Ming", which was then expanded to "Ming the Merciless" after the comic character.

He died of a heart attack in 1978 and his state funeral was held in Scots' Church, Melbourne on 19 May, at which Prince Charles, now King Charles III, represented the Queen.

John Malcolm Fraser was the 22nd prime minister of Australia and although he himself was born in Australia, his great grandfather William Fraser was born in Beauly, Inverness-shire, Scotland, and claimed descent from Clan Fraser of Lovat. William then moved to Nova Scotia, Canada in 1853 and his wife Jane shared the same surname from birth, although no familial connection has been noted between the two. She was said to have spoken fluent Canadian Gaelic!

Their son, Simon Fraser (John Malcolm Fraser's Grandfather) was born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia on the 21st August 1832. Attracted by the Victorian gold rush, he immigrated to Australia at the age of 21, arriving in Melbourne in 1853. In 1901, following the federation of the Australian colonies, Simon Fraser was elected as one of the first six Victorian members of the Australian Senate, remaining a senator until his retirement in 1913. In 1906, he assumed the role of the first patron for the Gaelic Society of Victoria, an organisation committed to preserving the Scottish Gaelic language and traditions in Australia. During a speech to the society, he admitted to having a limited proficiency in Gaelic, expressing that while he could speak only a few sentences, he could understand the majority of conversations.

His Son, Simon Fraser Jr. was an Australian sportsman who played high-level Australian rules football as well as becoming an Olympic rower.

John Malcolm Fraser followed in the footsteps of his Grandfather, Simon Fraser Sr. and at only 25 was one of the youngest people ever elected to parliament. As prime minister, Fraser showed an interest for foreign affairs and demonstrated greater involvement in the global arena compared to his predecessors.

You may know the 6th April as National Tartan day, officially recognised in Canada & the USA, but did you know that in Australia and New Zealand it's celebrated on July 1? In 1989, the Scottish Australian Heritage Council began to encourage Australians to wear tartan on July 1. The day has been promoted as International Tartan Day in Australia since 1996 and has been formally recognised by some states but not at a national level. Since 2001, the Scottish Australian Heritage Council and Australian branch of the Scottish National Party have petitioned the Government of Australia in the capital, Canberra, for federal recognition of International Tartan Day to celebrate the Scottish contribution to Australian history.

The significance of the 1st of July lies in commemorating the anniversary of the Repeal Proclamation of 1782, a crucial historical event that nullified the oppressive Act of Proscription of 1747. This earlier legislation had deemed the wearing of tartan a punishable offense, subjecting individuals to the severe consequence of up to seven years' transportation. The repeal in 1782 marked a significant turning point, liberating Scots from the restrictions on their traditional attire and cultural expressions. The 1st of July is a day to reflect on the enduring spirit of Scottish heritage and the triumph over historical challenges that sought to suppress cultural practices.

Over the years many Scottish societies have emerged as a means to preserve and celebrate Scottish culture, traditions, and heritage within the Australian context. One of their primary objectives is to foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie among individuals with Scottish ancestry, serving as a platform for cultural exchange and connection.

These societies stand as bastions of Scottish identity, organising events, gatherings, and festivals that showcase Scottish music, dance, language, and cuisine. Additionally, they play a pivotal role in strengthening ties between the Scottish diaspora in Australia and their counterparts worldwide, facilitating cultural exchange and collaboration. Through their efforts, Scottish Societies aim to enrich the broader Australian community by sharing the rich tapestry of Scottish heritage and fostering a spirit of inclusivity and appreciation for diverse cultural traditions.

The St Andrew's Society Melbourne is a relatively new Society founded in 2020 by Nick Broadley. The Society's Mission is to foster enduring and meaningful relationships within the Scottish business community in Melbourne, with a vision that spans generations.

Find out more about the society and how it came to be: An Interview With St Andrew's Society Melbourne

Image Sources

• Australian Map - Joey Csunyo on Unsplash
• Macquarie Mausoleum - Douglas Law, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
• John Malcolm Fraser - National Archives of Australia, CC BY 3.0 AU via Wikimedia Commons
• Australian Map & Compass - Denise Jans on Unsplash