Armenian Australian
Encyclopedia
Armenian Australian are Australians
who have ancestry from the country of Armenia
. They have become one of the key Armenian diaspora
s around the world and amongst the largests in the English-speaking world
. While the Armenian community in Australia is amongst the youngest of all diasporas, Australia’s economic prosperity over the past decade has attracted a large number of skilled Armenian migrants. The official relationship between Australia
and Armenia
started on 26 December 1991, and diplomatic relations were established on 15 January 1992.
Today the Austral-Armenian community includes members born in up to and over 43 different countries. The estimated Armenian community size is about 50,000 mostly residing in Sydney, with about 8,000 in Melbourne.
The main concentration of Armenians in Sydney are in the City of Ryde (12,000 - 15,000) followed by City of Willoughby http://home.people.net.au/~jbriones/aposydney/sydney_metro.htm and City of Warringah. Smaller communities exist in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. Australians of Armenian heritage are well known in Sydney and now hold an annual festival in the CBD each year which attracts over 25,000 visitors and is the second largest cultural festival behind the Greek festival.
Increasingly Australians of Armenian heritage are being recognized for their success in Politics, Banking & Finance and Law. Armenians of Australia are exceptionally well regarded and recognized in the Jewelry industry and many avenues of trade.
Below are some of the operating organisations within the Armenian Australian community:
named the Armenian Cultural Centre and another located in Bonnyrigg, New South Wales
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 Schooling has become stronger throughout the Australian community with 3 fulltime schools operating in sydney, these are:
Alongside which a number of Saturday schools operate as listed below:
, which in Australia is led by Archbishop Aghan Baliozian who is the Primate of the Australian and New Zealand Armenian Apostolic churches. Catholicism
, led by Father Parsegh (Basil) Sousanian, and the Armenian Evangelical Church
, also have their presence in Sydney and Melbourne. There are also the Holy Trinity Armenian Brotherhood Church and the Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church, both in Sydney.
Australian people
Australian people, or simply Australians, are the citizens of Australia. Australia is a multi-ethnic nation, and therefore the term "Australian" is not a racial identifier. Aside from the Indigenous Australian population, nearly all Australians or their ancestors immigrated within the past 230 years...
who have ancestry from the country of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. They have become one of the key Armenian diaspora
Armenian diaspora
The Armenian diaspora refers to the Armenian communities outside the Republic of Armenia and self proclaimed de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
s around the world and amongst the largests in the English-speaking world
English-speaking world
The English-speaking world consists of those countries or regions that use the English language to one degree or another. For more information, please see:Lists:* List of countries by English-speaking population...
. While the Armenian community in Australia is amongst the youngest of all diasporas, Australia’s economic prosperity over the past decade has attracted a large number of skilled Armenian migrants. The official relationship between Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
started on 26 December 1991, and diplomatic relations were established on 15 January 1992.
Brief 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 and India. In the mid-19th century a group of Armenians settled in the south-western region of Victoria which then became the City of Ararat in search of valuable commodities such as gold.Today the Austral-Armenian community includes members born in up to and over 43 different countries. The estimated Armenian community size is about 50,000 mostly residing in Sydney, with about 8,000 in Melbourne.
The main concentration of Armenians in Sydney are in the City of Ryde (12,000 - 15,000) followed by City of Willoughby http://home.people.net.au/~jbriones/aposydney/sydney_metro.htm and City of Warringah. Smaller communities exist in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. Australians of Armenian heritage are well known in Sydney and now hold an annual festival in the CBD each year which attracts over 25,000 visitors and is the second largest cultural festival behind the Greek festival.
Increasingly Australians of Armenian heritage are being recognized for their success in Politics, Banking & Finance and Law. Armenians of Australia are exceptionally well regarded and recognized in the Jewelry industry and many avenues of trade.
Below are some of the operating organisations within the Armenian Australian community:
- Armenian General Benevolent UnionArmenian General Benevolent UnionThe Armenian General Benevolent Union abbreviated as AGBU, is a non-profit Armenian organization. It was established in Cairo, Egypt in 1906...
- SBSSpecial Broadcasting ServiceThe Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
Armenian RadioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space... - Armenian Chamber of Commerce in Australia
- Social Democratic Hunchakian Party
- Homenetmen Australia
- Hye Hoki
- Armenian Revolutionary FederationArmenian Revolutionary FederationThe Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
- Armenian Youth Federation of AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
- HamazkayinHamazkayinHamazkayin , short for Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, is a major cultural organization of the Armenian Diaspora, with a presence in every significant Armenian community worldwide...
Regional Committee breaking down into sub-divisions/committees. - Armenian National Committee of Australia
Cultural centers
In Sydney there are several main cultural centers to which Armenians gather, one located in Willoughby, New South WalesWilloughby, New South Wales
Willoughby is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Willoughby is located 8 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Willoughby....
named the Armenian Cultural Centre and another located in Bonnyrigg, New South Wales
Bonnyrigg, New South Wales
Bonnyrigg is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bonnyrigg is located 36 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Fairfield and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region....
named the Armenian Cultural Panoyan Centre, and smaller Cultural Centres in Neutral Bay, City of Ryde
City of Ryde
The City of Ryde is a Local Government Area in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on the Lower North Shore and Greater Western Sydney over West Ryde and Eastwood District....
, 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 3 fulltime schools operating in sydney, these are:
- Hamazkaine Arshak & Sophie Galstauan School
- St Gregory's Armenian School
- A.G.B.U. Alexander Primary School
Alongside which a number of Saturday schools operate as listed below:
- Toumanian Armenian Saturday School
- A.G.B.U. Alexander Primary School
- Tarkmanchatch Armenian Saturday School
- Serop Papazian Armenian Saturday School
- Looyce Armenian Catholic School
Religion
The oldest and largest Armenian church in Australia and throughout the world is the Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
, which in Australia is led by Archbishop Aghan Baliozian who is the Primate of the Australian and New Zealand Armenian Apostolic churches. Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, led by Father Parsegh (Basil) Sousanian, and the Armenian Evangelical Church
Armenian Evangelical Church
The Armenian Evangelical Church was established on July 1, 1846 by thirty-seven men and three women in Constantinople.-History:In the 19th century there was intellectual and spiritual awakening in Constantinople. This awakening and enlightenment pushed the reformists to study the Bible...
, also have their presence in Sydney and Melbourne. There are also the Holy Trinity Armenian Brotherhood Church and the Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church, both in Sydney.
- The Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Apostolic ChurchThe Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
is located in Chatswood, New South WalesChatswood, New South WalesChatswood is a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Chatswood is located 10 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Willoughby. Chatswood West is a separate suburb...
. - The Armenian Catholic ChurchArmenian Catholic Church|- |The Armenian Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church sui juris in union with the other Eastern Rite, Oriental Rite and Latin Rite Catholics who accept the Bishop of Rome as spiritual leader of the Church. It is regulated by Eastern canon law...
is located in Lidcombe, New South WalesLidcombe, New South WalesLidcombe is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales Australia. Lidcombe is located 14 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council....
. - The Armenian Evangelical ChurchArmenian Evangelical ChurchThe Armenian Evangelical Church was established on July 1, 1846 by thirty-seven men and three women in Constantinople.-History:In the 19th century there was intellectual and spiritual awakening in Constantinople. This awakening and enlightenment pushed the reformists to study the Bible...
can located in Willoughby, New South WalesWilloughby, New South WalesWilloughby is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Willoughby is located 8 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Willoughby....
. - The Armenian Brotherhood Holy Trinity Church is located in Ryde, New South WalesRyde, New South WalesRyde 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 Suburbs area...
. - The Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church is located in Northbridge, New South WalesNorthbridge, New South WalesNorthbridge is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Northbridge is located 7 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Willoughby....
.
Notable Armenian Australians
The Austral Armenian community has shaped many notable figure throughout the community which have become key members who shape the identity of Armenians in Australia. Below are a few of these members.- Joe HockeyJoe HockeyJoseph Benedict "Joe" Hockey , is an Australian politician and member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of North Sydney for the Liberal Party of Australia since 1996....
(Family Name "Hokeidonian") - Member of Federal Parliament Shadow Treasurer - Gladys BerejiklianGladys BerejiklianGladys Berejiklian MP , an Australian politician, is the Minister for Transport in the O'Farrell Government. Berejiklian is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Willoughby for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2003.-Early years and background:Berejiklian was born in...
- Member of NSW Parliament, MinisterMinister (government)A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
for TransportTransportTransport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
, MinisterMinister (government)A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
for CitizenshipCitizenshipCitizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
. - Clr Sarkis Yedelian, OAM - Councillor and former Deputy Mayor Ryde, New South WalesRyde, New South WalesRyde 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 Suburbs area...
. - ArchbishopArchbishopAn archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Aghan Baliozian - PrimatePrimate (religion)Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of Australian and New Zealand Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Apostolic ChurchThe Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
. - Vic DarchinyanVic DarchinyanVakhtang "Vic" Darchinyan is an Armenian professional boxer discovered by HyeFighters. He is a three-division world champion, having won eight titles in three different weight classes. He is a former IBF Flyweight World Champion and a former Undisputed WBA, WBC & IBF Super Flyweight World...
- IBOInternational Boxing OrganizationThe International Boxing Organization is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...
Super flyweightSuper flyweightSuper flyweight is a weight division in professional boxing. It is alternatively referred to as junior bantamweight and light bantamweight...
world title holder - George DonikianGeorge Donikian-Radio career:George commenced his media career as an announcer with Radio station 4AM in far North Queensland in the mid 1970s, and was soon lured in a southerly direction and arrived at 2WL in Wollongong, New South Wales....
- Network TenNetwork TenNetwork Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
news presenter - Brian GoorjianBrian GoorjianBrian Goorjian is an American-Australian basketball coach. He is the most successful coach in Australian basketball history...
- Regarded as Australia's most successful basketball coach - Jano Toussounian - Australian/Armenian actor.
- Slava GrigoryanSlava GrigoryanSlava Grigoryan is an Australian classical guitarist and recording artist of Armenian heritage.He was born in Kazakhstan to Eduard and Irina Grigoryan, both professional violinists. His family emigrated to Australia in 1981 and he was raised in Melbourne. Grigoryan began to study guitar with his...
- classical guitarist, two time ARIAARIA ChartsThe ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
winner - Yurik SarkisianYurik SarkisianYurik Sarkisian is a former Olympic weightlifter for the USSR and Australia. He trained at VSS Sevan in Echmiadzin.In 2007 he was elected member of the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame.- Weightlifting achievements :...
- Two time World Champion Weightlifter, set 17 world records during his career - Michael Carapiet - Executive Director of Macquarie Bank residing in Sydney
- Dr Stephan Kerkysharian, AM - Chairman of the NSW Ethnic Affairs
- Zareh Nalbandian - Co-founder of Animal Logic , creator of "Happy Feet"
- Alex Haddad - (Armenian name Demirjian) Actor and music producer for Fat Pizza, Manager of a couple of Australian Celebrities
- Artin Etmekjian - Mayor - City of Ryde
- Dr Karen Mekertichian - Vice-President - Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry
- Dr Steven Hacobian - Pioneer of the School of Chemistry, Sydney University
- Rick Damelian - owner of a multi award winning automotive group
- Ashot Nazaryan - National Coach - Wrestling
External links
- http://www.agbu.org.au
- http://www.anc.org.au
- http://www.armenianchamber.com.au
- http://www.armenian.org.au/
- http://www.homenetmen.com.au/
- http://www.ararat.org.au/
- http://www.nareg.com.au/stg