Scottish migration to the Eastern Australian outback

Abstract

Using an unorthodox and previously unutilised data source — epitaph inscriptions — the authors deal with several geographical aspects of the Scottish migration to the humid crescent of eastern Australia. Source regions within Scotland are determined, destinations within Australia charted, and the issue of chain migration addressed. These findings are then brought to bear on the ‘Australia‐is‐one’ hypothesis, which holds that a composite Anglo‐Celtic culture prevails in that continent, submerging Scottish identity. Our findings generally support the hypothesis, with certain substantial qualifications.

Keywords:

• Australia
• Emigration
• Scotland