Africa in Australia details ties through early trade, gold rush migration between both continents, military involvement, and other colonial networks. Many African artefacts entered Australian collections through anthropologists, missionaries, entrepreneurs, adventurers, military personnel and diplomats, and through diaspora communities seeking to preserve traditions, culture and heritage.
There were extensive and regular connections between Africa and Australia by the 1800s. These links were organised, long lasting and deeply embedded within the global structure of the British Empire. British First Fleet arrivals to Australia in 1788 included convicts of African heritage, deported for crimes in the UK.
There are artefacts in museums from Australia’s involvement in the 1899-1902 Boer War in South Africa, in which 16,000 Australian troops served, and which accelerated the formation of a dedicated, independent Australian military.
Gold rushes in both Africa and Australia in the 19th century saw two-way migration. Gold discoveries on the Witwatersrand in 1886 saw thousands of Australians migrate to Africa, and gold rushes in Australia saw 1,500 South Africans settling in Australian colonies by 1891.
Benin Bronzes are also found in Australian museum collections. Australia has a connection to the 1897 British expedition against the Benin Kingdom through Harry Rawson, who led the expedition and later became the Governor of New South Wales (1902-1909).
