Total population | |
---|---|
16,723 (by ancestry, 2011) [1] 50,000—60,000 (estimates) [2] [3] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Sydney and Melbourne | |
Languages | |
Armenian, Arabic, Russian and Australian English | |
Religion | |
Majority Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Catholic Church, Armenian Evangelical Church and Protestantism | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Armenian Americans |
Armenian Australians refers to Australians of Armenian national background or descent. They have become one of the key Armenian diasporas around the world and among the largest in the English-speaking world.
While the Armenian community in Australia is relatively recent compared to other Armenian diasporas, Australia's economic prosperity over the last couple of decades has attracted many skilled Armenian migrants. The official relationship between Australia and Armenia started on 26 December 1991, and diplomatic relations were established on 15 January 1992. [4]
The influx of Armenians into Australia has come from many different Diaspora countries; these countries include Armenia, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Ethiopia, and India. [4]
Today the Australo-Armenian community includes members born in up to and over 43 different countries. The main concentration of Armenians in Sydney are in the City of Ryde (12,000 – 15,000) followed by City of Willoughby [5] and City of Warringah. Smaller communities exist in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth.
All traditional Armenian diaspora parties have established in the country:
There are also many associated political groupings like:
Other operating social and cultural organisations within the Armenian Australian community:
In Sydney there are several main cultural centres to which Armenians gather, one located in Willoughby, New South Wales named the Armenian Cultural Centre and another located in Bonnyrigg, New South Wales [15] named the Armenian Cultural Panoyan Centre, and smaller Cultural Centres in Neutral Bay, City of Ryde, Frenchs Forest (Ararat Reserve) and Naremburn, Sydney. Melbourne also has several cultural centres.
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 two full-time schools operating in Sydney. These are:
Alongside which a number of Saturday schools operate as listed below:
The oldest and largest Armenian church in Australia and throughout the world [19] is the Armenian Apostolic Church, which in Australia is led by Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian who is the Primate of the Australian and New Zealand Armenian Apostolic churches and replaced Archbishop Aghan Baliozian. The Armenian Catholic community is led by Father Parsegh (Basil) Sousanian. there is also a presence of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Sydney and Melbourne in addition to the Holy Trinity Armenian Brotherhood Church and the Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church, both in Sydney. [20]
The Australian Armenian community has produced many notable figures who have become key members who shape the identity of Armenians in Australia. Below are a few of these members.
Rhodes is an Inner West suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Rhodes is located 12 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Canada Bay. It was formerly part of Concord Municipality until a merger with Drummoyne Council to form Canada Bay in December 2000.
Ryde is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Ryde is located 13 km north-west of the Sydney central business district and 8 km east of Parramatta. Ryde is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Ryde and part of the Northern Sydney region. It lies on the north bank of the Parramatta River. People from Ryde are colloquially known as Ryders, Rydiens or Rydemen.
Epping is a suburb of Sydney, in the Australian state of New South Wales, 18 kilometres (11 mi) north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Parramatta. Epping is in the Northern Sydney region. The suburb is the most north-eastern area of the City of Parramatta. North Epping is a separate suburb to the north and under a different council, Hornsby Shire.
North Epping is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia 19 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire. North Epping is in the Northern Sydney region, and is often referred to as part of the "North-West" or North Shore. Epping is a separate suburb to the south and under the Parramatta City Council, which shares the postcode of 2121.
Eastwood is a suburb of Sydney, Australia. Eastwood is located 17 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of the City of Ryde and the City of Parramatta. Eastwood is in the Northern Sydney region and is on the Sydney Trains Northern Line (Sydney). despite it being partially in the City of Parramatta. The area is best known for being an ethnic enclave for immigrant populations in Sydney, mainly of East Asian origin but the suburb also has a significant number of other immigrant populations, such as Italian and Anglo-Saxon people. Eastwood was originally its own town but due to the expansion of Sydney, was eventually absorbed.
Epping Boys High School is a comprehensive, public high school located in Marsfield, New South Wales, Australia, established in 1957. The current principal is Jessica Schadel.
Telopea is a suburb of Greater Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Telopea is located 23 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Parramatta. The suburb is bordered by Kissing Point Road to the south and Pennant Hills Road to the north.
Armenians in Egypt are a community with a long history. They are a minority with their own language, churches, and social institutions. The number of Armenians in Egypt has decreased due to migrations to other countries and integration into the rest of Egyptian society, including extensive intermarriage with Muslims and Christians. Today they number about 6000, much smaller than a few generations ago. They are concentrated in Cairo and Alexandria, the two largest cities. Economically the Egyptian Armenians have tended to be self-employed businessmen or craftsmen and to have more years of education than the Egyptian average.
The Armenian General Benevolent Union is a non-profit Armenian organization established in Cairo, Egypt, in 1906. With the onset of World War II, headquarters were moved to New York City, New York.
The Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, abbreviated as UAECNE, is an autonomous body of Armenian Evangelical churches comprising 25 congregations throughout Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Australia.
Armenians have lived in Lebanon for centuries. According to Minority Rights Group International, there are 156,000 Armenians in Lebanon, around 4% of the population. Prior to the Lebanese Civil War, the number was higher, but the community lost a portion of its population to emigration.
Gladys Berejiklian is an Australian businesswoman and former politician who served as the 45th premier of New South Wales and the leader of the New South Wales division of the Liberal Party from 2017 to 2021. Berejiklian currently works as an executive for the telecommunications company Optus.
The Pan-Armenian Games are a multi-sport event, held between competitors from the Armenian diaspora and Armenia. They consist of various competitions in individual and team sports among the Armenian athletes. It takes place in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
Armenians in Jordan are ethnic Armenians living in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. There are an estimated 3,000 Armenians living in the country today with an estimated 2,500 of them being members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and predominantly speak Western Armenian dialect. Armenians make up the biggest majority of non-Arab Christians in the country.
Armenian Uruguayans number around 15,000–20,000 of the population, making Uruguay to have one of the largest Armenian diaspora populations around the world. The Armenian community in Uruguay is one of the oldest communities in South America, with most of them residing in the capital Montevideo. The majority of Armenians in Uruguay are either third or fourth-generation descendants of the first wave of immigrants coming from the Ottoman Empire between the end of the 19th century and the Armenian genocide.
Armenian Canadians are citizens and permanent residents of Canada who have total or partial Armenian ancestry. According to the 2021 Canadian Census they number almost 69,000, while independent estimates claim around 80,000 Canadians of Armenian origin, with the highest estimates reaching 100,000. Though significantly smaller than the Armenian American community, the formation of both underwent similar stages beginning in the late 19th century and gradually expanding in the latter 20th century and beyond. Most Armenian Canadians are descendants of Armenian genocide survivors from the Middle East, with less than 7% of all Canadian Armenians having been born in Armenia. Today most Armenian Canadians live in Greater Montreal and Greater Toronto, where they have established churches, schools and community centers.
Coptic Australians are Australians of Coptic descent or persons of Coptic descent residing in Australia. According to the 2011 census, there were 24,693 Copts in Australia, mostly members of the Coptic Orthodox Church. The Coptic population within Australia is estimated to be between 70,000 and 100,000 people.
Karekin Simonian was an ethniclly Armenian and Iraqi-born Australian internationally recognised referee in Olympic weightlifting and bodybuilding. He was an I.F.B.B. reporter for 50 years.
Peter Board High School, known from 1962 to 1985 as North Ryde High School, was a government-funded co-educational comprehensive secondary day school, that was located in North Ryde, a northern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The school opened in 1962 and closed in 1998.