Registration of Aliens 1916-1928
During World War 1 Aliens were required to complete forms with questions about their arrival, parentage, source town, current address and trade. These forms hold key information about the immigrant's life overseas and shipping information which can sometimes be difficult to find.
Registration of aliens is often mistakenly thought of as equivalent to internment, or else as related to the Dictation Test.
Only 10% to 15% of the number who registered were interned. The Dictation Test was designed to stop immigration of "Asians and coloured races who might have had a right to settle in Australia under agreements and laws applicible throughout the British Empire.
This essay reviews the social and legal arrangements regarding aliens, the agencies executing these functions, and the details on
the forms. The information in the Remarks section of the form often tell intriguing tales, demonstrated by samples from a few national bundles. As there was quite a variety of administration pracitices under a few different agencies, a state by state survey of holdings in the National Archives of Australia is included to assist researchers with access.
