Cabramatta Identity

Identify the combination of factors that contribute to your community’s sense of identity?
Cabramatta is a key reflection of the traditional owners of the land, changing migration patterns to Australia and its rich layers of the past. Cabramatta’s first white settlers were Irish political prisoners who were some of the first convicts to be provided with land grants which was to support the food shortage throughout the colony. Alike many of Sydney’s colony’s Cabramatta was known primarily for agriculture. Early settler’s seeked employment on farming properties and dairies. Cabramatta grew heavily reliant on its neighboring settlement, Liverpool which provided Cabramatta with essential supplies and kept peace and order throughout the colony.

The abolition of the White Australian Policy is was prompted change in the Cabramatta community, because it restricted non white or non European migration into Australia. During the late 1970’s Australia became more accommodating to Vietnamese and refugees of an Asian origin as an aftermath of the policy being eradicated. This is when Australia began it’s transformation into a more accepting multicultural society. As mentioned Cabramatta and its surrounding suburbs were an ideal situation for migrants because of the several migrant hostels that were managed within the area. By the 1990’s Cabramatta had seemed to develop its own sense of identity with Vietnamese businesses thriving in shops, restaurants and commercial enterprises. The decision made by the Federal government to allow large numbers of Vietnamese to migrate to Australia and the Vietnamese governments support in Australia’s decision in allowing refugees to leave their country and take residence in Australia is what brought about perhaps the most significant change Cabramatta has ever undertaken. In 2006, 27.5 per cent of people resident in Cabramatta were born in Australia, while 31.2 per cent were born in Vietnam, 9.0 per cent in Cambodia, 5.5 per cent in China, 1.6 per cent in Laos and 1.3 per cent in Thailand. In addition, many people born in Australia were of South-East Asian descent. (Geography Focus txt Book, Factors causing change In AUS communities). With the large increase in immigration from South- East Asia to Cabramatta and it’s surrounding area a positive impact has been made on the wider community. With now a greater demand for foreign goods Cabramatta is now able to import clothes, newspapers and furniture from Asian countries, consequently making it a more globalised community. Cabramatta is now seen to have a greater cultural diversity, which is reflected through the countless Vietnamese