 | ||
East Timorese Australians are Australian citizens of East Timorese descent or an East Timor-born person who resides in the Commonwealth of Australia.
Contents
East Timorese people in Australia are one of the largest groups of the East Timorese diaspora.
Under Portuguese rule
East Timorese immigration to Australia began with the arrival of the first migrants from the then Portuguese Timor in 1943 during the World War II. This migration wave consisted of approximately 600 people who were evacuated from the island of whom only 35 settled permanently after the war ended.
Indonesian occupation
During the Indonesian invasion of 1975, a significant number of East Timorese fled to Darwin, situated 656 km (408 mi) from Dili. The Australian government accepted 2,500 East Timorese refugees in 1975, primarily those of Portuguese descent. FRETILIN was reported to have been active in Darwin during this time using HF radio communication to contact comrades in Dili. Darwin proved an ideal base for FRETILIN to operate its informal government in exile given the city's significant East Timorese exile community who supported independence.