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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MelaninWarlord" data-source="post: 59801" data-attributes="member: 428">That is an excellent point of distinction in Australian history. While the logic is similar to the American context, the specific Australian laws and the "White Australia" policy created a very unique—and often harsh—environment for these two groups. You are right: the 19th-century Chinese arrivals were almost exclusively male, whereas the 20th-century Vietnamese arrivals were family units. Here is why that contrast exists in the Australian story. 1. The 19th Century: Chinese "Sojourners" Between the 1850s and the late 1800s, tens of thousands of Chinese men came to Australia, primarily for the Gold Rushes in Victoria and New South Wales. The "Sojourner" Model: Most were young men sent by their villages or clans to earn money and send it back (remittances). They did not intend to stay forever, so they didn't bring wives or children. The "Bachelor Society": By 1861, there were roughly 38,000 Chinese people in Australia, but only a tiny fraction were women. In some mining districts, the ratio was as extreme as 1 woman for every 500+ men. Hostile Legislation: Australian colonies passed "Anti-Chinese" laws (like the Chinese Immigration Restriction Act of 1861) specifically to make it expensive and difficult for Chinese people to enter. Later, the White Australia Policy (1901) made it nearly impossible for those who stayed to bring their wives over, as the government wanted to prevent a permanent Chinese-Australian population from growing. 2. The 20th Century: Vietnamese Families and Refugees The arrival of the Vietnamese in the 1970s and 80s was a fundamentally different event. This wasn't a search for gold; it was an escape from war. The End of White Australia: The Vietnamese were the first major group of Asian migrants to arrive after the White Australia Policy was fully abolished (1973). This meant the government was finally open to non-European permanent settlement. Refugee Motivation: When the South Vietnamese government fell in 1975, people fled political persecution. Unlike the 19th-century miners, they weren't looking for a temporary job—they were looking for a new home. Families fled together on boats or were later reunited through the Orderly Departure Program. Government Support: Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser’s government actively supported the resettlement of Vietnamese refugees. Because the goal was integration, the government prioritized keeping families together in migrant hostels (like Cabramatta in Sydney or Springvale in Melbourne). Summary Comparison</blockquote>

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