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Croatian Australians

Croatian Australians, Australian Croats or Croats in Australia are Australians of Croatian ancestry. Croatia has been a source of migrants to Australia, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s.

History
Prior to World War I Croats were first encouraged to migrate to Australia during the gold rushes of the 1850s taking place in the British colonies of Victoria and New South Wales. Although migration was relatively small, Croatian travellers and sailors employed on merchant vessels played a significant role in spreading the news of the opportunities possible in Australia. In an interesting occurrence in October 1875, sixteen Croatian sailors aboard the vessel Stefano, became shipwrecked on the Ningaloo Reef along the West Australian coast. Ten survived to reach the shore where the local Yinikutira people gave them food and water, and found their map of the coast among the shipwreck's debris. By January 1876, all but two had died from hunger or exposure. The two survivors, Baccich (aged 16) and Jurich (aged 19), became part of a Yinikutira clan and spent the following three months living with them around the North West Cape. They were rescued by a pearler looking for Aboriginal labour in April 1876 and, after a few months in Fremantle, they returned to Europe. Tom Starcevich, a Croatian Australian born in Subiaco, Western Australia was a recipient of the Victoria Cross medal for bravery during World War II. During the 1960s and early 1970s, the Ustaše splinter groups in Australia led by people like Srećko Rover ran a campaign of bombings, intimidation and insurgency operations against pro-Yugoslav interests. Eventually, after a large bombing in Sydney injured many people, a crackdown on the Ustaše movement in the Croatian-Australia community occurred from late 1972. This was spearheaded by the Attorney-General, Lionel Murphy, who raided ASIO Headquarters and made public the files on the Croatian terrorist activities. In November 1977, an unofficial Croatian embassy was opened in Canberra, causing a legal and diplomatic difficulty for both the Australian and Yugoslav governments. The embassy, aimed at raising awareness of Croatia as a nation and the Croatian people separate from Yugoslavia, remained open for 2 years closing in 1979. Its ambassador was Mario Despoja, the father of former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja. Since the independence of Croatia in the 1990s, an official embassy has been opened in Canberra and consulates have been opened in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Since 1991, the number of Croatians who have immigrated to Australia has been 30,000 and has been steadily declining since the beginning of 2000. == Demographics ==
Demographics
As the level of immigration from Croatia has dropped significantly from the 1980s, Religion 2001 Census In 2001, there were 51,909 Croatians born in Croatia living in Australia. 57% of the Croatian-born population was aged 65 years or older at the time of the 2021 Census. The 2021 data also revealed that 15% of Croatian born Australians spoke only Croatian at home, while 24% spoke only English at home, and 72% of Croatian born Australians recorded their religion as Catholic. ==Croatian Australians and sport==
Croatian Australians and sport
, a football club founded by Croatian Australians, at the 2022 Australia Cup Final Australia has had numerous notable athletes of Croatian heritage, but Croatian Australians are mainly found in soccer, with numerous clubs established by local Croatian communities throughout the country, the most notable and successful being Sydney Croatia and Melbourne Croatia. These clubs nurtured the soccer talents of a large number of Croatian Australians, many of whom now play professionally overseas. Croatian Australians have played for both Croatia and Australia. In the 2006 World Cup, there were seven Croatian Australians playing for Australia and three playing for Croatia. A total of 47 Croatian Australians have gone on to play for the Australian national soccer team, including 7 who captained the national team. The Australian-Croatian Soccer Tournament is the oldest running soccer competition in Australia. Notable 21st century Australian athletes to have Croatian heritage include Simon Katich, Nathan Cleary, Noah Balta, and Nicola Olyslagers. Croatian Australian Socceroos Croatian Australian MatildasEmily Gielnik Croatian Australians in Croatian national teamAnthony ŠerićJosip ŠimunićJoey Didulica Notable Croatian Australians to represent Australia in other SportsNathan Cleary - Rugby League • Simon Katich - Cricket • Max Krilich - Rugby League (C) • Nicola Olyslagers - High Jumping • Andrew Vlahov - Basketball • Steve Erceg - UFC fighter • Andrew Bogut, former NBA player • Natasha Chokljat, Netball ==Culture==
Culture
Folklore Croatian Folkloric Arts Festival is held in Adelaide New South Wales Folklore Society Association in Sydney gathers and coordinates Croatian groups in the NSW area. • Folklore ensemble "Vukovar", Sydney (since 1984) • Mladi Frankopani ('Young Frankopans'), Sydney • HSF Croatia, Canberra • Mladi Hrvati ('Young Croats'), Melbourne • Hrvatska Zora ('Croatian Dawn'), Melbourne • Hrvatsko folklorno društvo ('Croatian Folklore Association'), Melbourne • HKUD Lado, Geelong • Hrvatska folklorna skupina Lenek ('Croatian Folklore Group Lenek'), Adelaide • KUD Hrvatski Pleter ('Croatian interlace'), Adelaide Events • Croats in Australia from the Sali on Dugi Otok island organised themselves into "Sons of Sali" (S.O.S.) and "Sisters of Sali". They organise the Annual Sons of Sali Picnic and Bocce competition, as well as SOS Karte nights. Clubs Australia is home to numerous Croatian clubs and societies. Most of them are located in Sydney, Melbourne, Geelong, Perth, and Canberra, in premises owned and built by the Croatian community. ACT • The Australian Croatian Club (O'Connor, Canberra) • Croatian Catholic Centre Canberra & Queanbeyan (Farrer, Canberra) • Croatian Club Deakin (Deakin, Canberra) NSW • The Concord Community Club (Concord, Sydney) • King Tomislav Croatian Club (Edensor Park, Sydney) • Croatian Club Bosna (Orchard Hills, Sydney) • Croatian Wickham Sports Club (Newcastle) • Croatian Catholic Centre Wollongong • Dalmacija Sydney Croatian Club (Terrey Hills, Sydney) • St Anthony, Croatian Catholic Centre (Summer Hill, Sydney) • Church of Our Lady of the Great Croatian Covenant (Blacktown, Sydney) • Croatian Catholic Church of Saint Nicholas Tavelic (St John's Park, Sydney) Victoria • Melbourne Croatia Soccer Club (Sunshine, Melbourne) • The Croatian Club (Footscray, Melbourne) • Croatian Club Geelong • Gippsland Croatian Club (Traralgon) • Croatian Senior Citizens Irymple (Mildura) • Croatian Catholic Centre St. Anthony (Geelong) • Croatian Catholic Centre of the Holy Spirit (Braeside, Melbourne) • Croatian Church of St Nikola Tavelić (Clifton Hill, Melbourne) • Croatian Catholic Centre Sunshine (Sunshine West, Melbourne) • Victorian Croatian Chamber of Commerce (Melbourne, Victoria) Queensland • The Croatian Club Brisbane (Rocklea, Brisbane) • Croatian Catholic Centre (Salisbury, Brisbane) • Croatian Sports Centre (Carrara, Gold Coast) South Australia • The Croatian Club Adelaide (Brompton, Adelaide) • The Croatian Sports Centre (SA) Inc (State Sports Park, Gepps Cross) • Whyalla Croatia Soccer and Social Club (Whyalla Norrie, Whyalla) Western Australia • WA Croatian Community Centre (North Fremantle, Perth) • Croatian House (Hrvatski Dom) Gwelup, Perth • Stirling Adriatic Stirling, Perth • Croatian Bowling Club Jedinstvo Inc (Swan Valley) Tasmania • Australian Croatian Club (Glenorchy) • Croatian Catholic Centre (Granton, Hobart) ==Language and education==
Language and education
Since 1975, the state-owned station SBS has been broadcasting programs in the Croatian language, and in 1989, Croatian language teaching began as an elective subject in secondary schools. • Croatian Language Center, teaching Croatian as a foreign languageCroatian Studies Centre (CSC) within the School of Modern Languages at Sydney's Macquarie University, established in 1994. Croatian is also learnt in Croatian schools and some language schools, for ex. in the New South Wales. Croatian is an optional (elective) subject at the graduation exam. Some of the Croatian schools in the NSW include: • Braća Radić School in Schofields • Dr. Ante Starčević School in Beverly Hills • Croatian School in Blacktown • Croatian School in Summer Hill ==Media==
Media
Broadcasting There are Croatian language programs at the SBS since 1975. Among the radios, there are Croatian Radio Australia in Sydney and 3ZZ in Melbourne, Croatian Program World Radio and Radio Fremantle – Croatian Program. • Caritas Croatia, monthly bulletin of "Croatian Caritas Australia" FilmUnspoken, short film ==Charities==
Charities
The most prominent humanitarian organizations include: • Australian-Croatian Community Services (Australsko-hrvatske društvene usluge), Melbourne, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to the elderly and disabled • Adria Retirement Village, a retirement home and care facility • Adria Village Limited, founded in 1989 by the voluntary work of members of the Croatian community in Canberra, officially opened in 1994 • Cardinal Stepinac Village, a retirement home and care facility • Croatian Caritas Australia ==Economy==
Economy
Wines Among prominent vineyards and wineries established and held by Croatian descendants in Australia are Talijancich Wines, Katgully Wines, Windy Creek Estate, John Kosovich Wines etc. ==List of notable Croatian Australians==
List of notable Croatian Australians
Entertainment and the artsSteve Abbott – comedian, The Sandman, Russian/Croatian mother • Eric Bana – actor (Croatian father) • Charles Billich – artist • Nathaniel Buzolic – actor • Drago Marin Cherina – sculptor • Ante Dabro – sculptor • Silvana Gardner – poet and visual artist • Robert Jozinović – actor • Robert Luketić – film director • Tatjana Lukić – poetry editor and poet • Ivan Sen – film director – Croatian father, Aboriginal mother • Marisa Siketa – actress • Mark Strizic – Photographer and painter. • Emma Viskic – author – Croatian father, Irish Australian mother. MusicAlison Wonderland – electronic dance music producer, DJ and singer. • Philip Bračanin – composer and musicologist. • Steve Pavlovic – music entrepreneur • Roddy Radalj – musician, founding member of the Hoodoo Gurus, the Dubrovniks and Roddy Ray'Da & the Surfin' Caesars. • Natalie D-Napoleon – (Croatian father and mother) – Australian singer-songwriter and poet. • Simone Young – (Croatian mother) – Australian conductor • The Kid Laroi - (Mom's Ancestry) Australian Singer AcademiaDavid Andrich – academic Science and medicineBrice Bosnich – chemist • Ivan Marusic – physicist • Vlado Perkovic – physician • Ralph Sarich – Inventor of the revolutionary Orbital Engine, and at one stage, in the 1970s, Australia's richest person. • Frances Separovic- biophysical chemist • Hrvoje Tkalčić – geophysicist Business and workKatarina Carroll (nee Bošnjak) – first female Police Commissioner, for the State of Queensland • Juli Grbac, fashion designer who was the first winner of Project Runway Australia. • Tony Šantić – Millionaire tuna fisherman, horse breeder and owner of Makybe DivaZeljko Ranogajec – businessman and professional gambler. • John Setka – Australian Trade Union leader MediaCharmaine Dragun – journalist • Laura Dundovic – Top 10 finalist of Miss Universe 2008friendlyjordies – Jordan Shanks-Markovina; independent journalist, stand-up comedian and former model • George Grljusich – sports journalist • Sarah Harris – journalist • Andrew O'Keefe – TV personality (Croatian mother) • Amos Gill – Comedian, Radio and TV Presenter • Silvio Rivier – Television presenter (born in Croatia, migrated to Australia in 1961). PoliticsDanica Baričević – politician (Croatian Democratic Union), born in Myrtleford, Victoria • Mick Nanovich – politician (Liberal Party), Western Australia • Maria Kovacic - politician, senator (Liberal Party), NSW • Tony Krsticevic – politician (Liberal Party), Western Australia • John Newman – Born John Naumenko, politician (Labor Party) NSW. • Jaye Radisich – politician (Labor Party), Western Australia • Ljiljanna Ravlich – politician (Labor Party), Western Australia • Zed Seselja – politician, senator (Liberal Party), ACT • Natasha Stott Despoja – federal politician, senator (Australian Democrats) – South Australia OtherMatthew Beovich – Roman Catholic priest, Archbishop of Adelaide. • Blaž Kraljević – Croatian and Bosnian general • Ivan Milat – notorious serial killer (Croatian father) • Vincent Serventy – a noted Australian author, ornithologist and conservationist. • Tom Starcevich – World War 2 Victoria Cross recipient • Frank Vitkovic – notorious mass murderer and perpetrator of the Queen Street Massacre (Croatian father) SportJason Akermanis – His father, Denis Dezdjek, is Croatian. • Noah Balta – Australian rules footballer • Adrian Barich – Australian rules and rugby league footballer • Andrew Barisic – football (soccer) player, Kingfisher East BengalAndrew Bogut – basketball player, Sydney Kings; formerly with several NBA teams • Mark Bosnich – former football (soccer) player, Australia, now soccer TV analyst • Oliver Bozanic - former football (soccer) player • Mark Bresciano – football (soccer) player, Al Nasr and Australia (Croatian mother) • Ivan Cleary – Rugby league coach and former player • Nathan Cleary – Rugby league player • Ante Čović – footballer (soccer) player, Elfsborg and AustraliaJason Čulina- football (soccer) player, Gold Coast United and AustraliaAlan Didak – Australian rules footballer • Joey Didulica – former Croatian footballer • Bronko Djura – former rugby league footballer and cricketer • Jelena Dokic – tennis player (Croatian mother) • John Dorotich – Australian rules footballer • Anthony Drmic – basketball player, Adelaide 36ersFrank Drmic – basketball player, last played for South DragonsMate Dugandzic – football (soccer) player, Adelaide United FCGordon Fode – Australian rules footballer • Ray Gabelich – Australian rules footballer • Eugene Galekovic – football (soccer) player and Socceroo • Darren Gaspar – Australian rules footballer • John Gerovich – Australian rules footballer • Antony Golec – football (soccer) player, Central Coast Mariners, formerly Sydney FC, Sydney United and Adelaide UnitedBrent Grgić – Australian rules footballer • Ivan Henjak – former Rugby league footballer and coach • Matt Henjak – Rugby union player, Toulon and formerly Australia (nephew of Ivan) • Allen Jakovich – Australian rules footballer • Glen Jakovich – Australian rules footballer • Vedran Janjetović – football (soccer) player • Mile Jedinak – footballer (soccer), Aston Villa and Australia. • Wayne Johnston – Australian rules footballer • Tomi Jurić – footballer (soccer) and Socceroo • Željko Kalac- former football (soccer) player, Kavala and Australia, now soccer TV analyst • Anthony Kalik – footballer • Simon Katich – Australian Cricket representative • Max Krilich – Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s • Anthony Leban – Australian footballer • Dean Lukin – Olympic weight lifting gold medallist • Ivan Maric – Australian rules footballer • Marinko Matosevic – Tennis player • Brody Mihocek – Australian rules footballer • Jack Mihocek – Australian rules footballer • Ante Milicic – former football (soccer) player, Rijeka and AustraliaTomislav Mrčela – Australian footballer, NK Lokomotiva and AustraliaNicola Olyslagers – Australian high jumper • Len Pascoe – Australian Cricket representative • Matthew Pavlich – Australian rules footballer • Anthony Perosh – mixed martial arts fighter • Val Perovic - Australian rules footballer • Oscar Piastri - F1 driver • Tony Popović – former football (soccer) player and current manager • Jack Rocchi – Australian rules footballer • Steven Salopek – Australian rules footballer • Anthony Šerić – football (soccer) player, Hajduk Split and CroatiaJosip Šimunić – former football (soccer) player, Hoffenheim and CroatiaElvis Sinosic – mixed martial arts fighter • Josip Skoko – former football (soccer) player, Hajduk Split and AustraliaIvan Soldo – Australian rules footballer • Brandon Starcevich – Australian rules footballer • Craig Starcevich – Australian rules footballer • Peter Sumich – Australian rules footballer • Erik Surjan – decathlete • Jacob Surjan – Australian rules footballer • Ajla Tomljanović – tennis player • Bernard Tomić – tennis player • Steven Ugarković – football player • Mark Viduka – former football (soccer) player for numerous club teams and AustraliaDennis Yagmich – cricket • David Zdrilić – football (soccer) player, now soccer TV analyst • Ned Zelić – former football (soccer) player for numerous club teams and Australia, now soccer TV analyst • Noah Botić – football (soccer) player • Andrew Vlahov – basketball and four-time Olympian == See also ==
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