Armenian Australians
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 22,526 (by ancestry, 2021)[1] | |
| 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.[2]
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, Ethiopia, Singapore, and India.[2]
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, followed by the City of Willoughby,[3] and the City of Warringah. Smaller communities exist in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth.
Organisations
All traditional Armenian diaspora parties have established in the country:
- Social Democratic Hunchakian Party[4]
- Armenian Democratic Liberal Party
- Armenian Revolutionary Federation
There are also many associated political groupings like:
Other operating social and cultural organisations within the Armenian Australian community:
- Armenian General Benevolent Union
- Hamazkayin Regional Committee breaking down into sub-divisions/committees.[7][8]
- SBS Armenian Radio[9]
- Armenian Chamber of Commerce in Australia[10]
- Homenetmen Australia[11]
- Hye Hoki[12]
- Cultural centres
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[13] 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.
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 two full-time schools operating in Sydney. These are:
Alongside which a number of Saturday schools operate as listed below:
- Toomanian Armenian Saturday School[8]
- AGBU Alex Manoogian Saturday School[16]
- Tarkmanchatch Armenian Saturday School
- Serop Papazian Armenian Saturday School
- Looyce Armenian Catholic School
Religion
| Religious group | 2021[17][a] | 2016[18][b] | 2011[19][c] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Catholic | 67 | 5.57% | 60 | 5.16% | 72 | 6.92% |
| Oriental Orthodox | 423 | 35.19% | 498 | 42.86% | 444 | 42.65% |
| Protestant and Other christian | 515 | 42.85% | 443 | 38.12% | 401 | 38.52% |
| (Total Christian) | 1,005 | 83.61% | 1,001 | 86.14% | 911 | 87.51% |
| Islam | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 5 | 0.48% |
| No religion | 127 | 10.57% | 73 | 6.28% | 40 | 3.84% |
| Buddhism | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Hinduism | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Judaism | 0 | 0% | 4 | 0.34% | 0 | 0% |
| Other | 4 | 0.33% | 5 | 0.43% | 12 | 1.15% |
| Not stated | 67 | 5.57% | 81 | 6.97% | 76 | 7.3% |
| Total Armenian Australian population | 1,202 | 100% | 1,162 | 100% | 1,041 | 100% |
| Religious group | 2021[17][a] | 2016[18][b] | 2011[19][c] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Catholic | 4,090 | 17.24% | 3,394 | 16.63% | 2,711 | 15.26% |
| Oriental Orthodox | 8,079 | 34.06% | 8,309 | 40.72% | 7,814 | 43.98% |
| Protestant and Other christian | 7,417 | 31.27% | 5,762 | 28.24% | 5,255 | 29.58% |
| (Total Christian) | 19,580 | 82.54% | 17,465 | 85.6% | 15,843 | 89.17% |
| Islam | 113 | 0.48% | 64 | 0.34% | 45 | 0.25% |
| No religion | 3,354 | 14.14% | 2,065 | 10.12% | 1,196 | 6.73% |
| Buddhism | 24 | 0.1% | 29 | 0.14% | 19 | 0.11% |
| Hinduism | 11 | 0.05% | 10 | 0.05% | 5 | 0.03% |
| Judaism | 25 | 0.11% | 21 | 0.1% | 18 | 0.1% |
| Other | 41 | 0.17% | 33 | 0.16% | 33 | 0.19% |
| Not stated | 576 | 2.43% | 712 | 3.49% | 513 | 2.89% |
| Total Armenian Australian population | 23,722 | 100% | 20,403 | 100% | 17,767 | 100% |
The oldest and largest Armenian church in Australia and throughout the world[20] 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.[21]
- The Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection is located in Chatswood, New South Wales.[22]
- The Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Trinity in Wentworthville, New South Wales.
- The Armenian Catholic Church is located in Lidcombe, New South Wales.[23]
- The Armenian Evangelical Church is located in Willoughby, New South Wales.
- The Armenian Brotherhood Holy Trinity Church is located in Ryde, New South Wales.[24]
- The Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church is located in Northbridge, New South Wales.[25]
Notable Armenian Australians
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.
- Gladys Berejiklian – member of the NSW Parliament for Willoughby, Treasurer of New South Wales (2015–2017), Premier of New South Wales (2017–2021)[26]
- Vic Darchinyan – Three-division world champion boxer
- George Donikian – Network Ten news presenter
- Brian Goorjian – Regarded as Australia's most successful basketball coach.
- Slava Grigoryan – classical guitarist, two-time ARIA winner.
- Joe Hockey – member of parliament for the Division of North Sydney (1996–2015), Treasurer (2013–2015), ambassador of Australia to the United States (2016–2020)
- John Kachoyan – Director and writer
- Yurik Sarkisian – Olympic silver medalist and two-time world champion weightlifter, set 17 world records during his career.
- Jano Toussounian – Australian/Armenian actor
See also
Notes
- ^ a b Religious breakdown proportions based on "Armenian" ethnic or cultural origin response on the 2021 census.[17]
- ^ a b Religious breakdown proportions based on "Armenian" ethnic or cultural origin response on the 2016 census.[18]
- ^ a b Religious breakdown proportions based on "Armenian" ethnic or cultural origin response on the 2011 census.[19]
References
- ^ The People of Australia – Statistics from the 2011 Census (PDF). Australian Government. 2014. ISBN 978-1-920996-23-9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Armenia country brief". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. July 2015. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ Julito Briones (21 May 2007). "A report about Sydney". Home.people.net.au. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ^ "Social Democrat Hunchakian Party – Australian Leadership". hunchak.org.au. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Armenian Youth Federation of Australia". Ayfaustralia.org. Archived from the original on 7 May 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Armenian National Committee of Australia". Anc.org.au. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Galstaun College Armenian Primary & Secondary School". Galstaun.nsw.edu.au. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Hamazkaine Nairi and Homenetmen Ararat Sydney Chapter". Ararat.org.au. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Armenian – SBS Your Language". Sbs.com.au. 12 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Australian Armenian Chamber of Commerce". Aacca.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ Homenetmen Australia Regional Website
- ^ "Hyehoki". hyehoki.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ Armenian Info & Portal Web Site
- ^ "Galstaun College, Ingleside NSW – Sydney Armenian Primary & Secondary School". Galstaun.nsw.edu.au. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Calendar". Alexander Primary School. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ^ "Alex Manoogian Armenian Language School". Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ^ a b c "People in Australia who were born in Armenia, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 10 August 2021. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ^ a b c "People in Australia who were born in Armenia, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 10 August 2016.
- ^ a b c "People in Australia who were born in Armenia, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 10 August 2011.
- ^ Armenians#Religion
- ^ "Australian Standard Classification of Religious Groups (ASCRG), 1996". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 21 April 2006. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "The Armenian Apostolic Church". CNEWA. 23 November 2015. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Our Lady Of The Assumption". armeniancatholic.org.au. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ This page contains addresses of all Armenian Brotherhood Churches Around the World
- ^ "Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church". Armenianbrethren.org. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "The Hon. Gladys Gladys Berejiklian, BA, DIntS, MCom MP". Parliament of New South Wales. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.