page_title: European Australians
section_title: First settlement by Europeans
hierarchical_section_title: European Australians / History / First settlement by Europeans
caption_attribution_description: 'Rural Life' Pictures from The Powerhouse Museum
context_page_description: European Australians or White Australians are citizens or residents of Australia whose ancestry originates from the peoples of Europe. They form the largest panethnic group in the country.
  Since the early 19th century, people of European descent have formed the vast majority of the population in Australia. Historically, European immigrants had great influence over Australian culture and society, which resulted in the perception of Australia as a European-derived country.
  The majority of European Australians are of British Isles – English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh or Cornish – ancestral origin. It is estimated that around 58% of the Australian population were Anglo-Celtic Australians with 18% being of other European origins. Other significant ancestries include Italian, German, Greek, Dutch, New Zealanders, Polish, Maltese, and Scandinavian. The panethnic group can be also be divided into broad regional subgroups, such as Eastern European Australians, Northwestern European Australians and Southern European Australians.
context_section_description: The British Crown Colony of New South Wales started with the establishment of a settlement at Sydney Cove by Captain Arthur Phillip on 26 January 1788. This date later became Australia's national day, Australia Day. These land masses included the current islands of New Zealand, which was administered as part of New South Wales until it became a separate colony in 1841. Van Diemen's Land, now known as Tasmania, was first settled in 1803.
caption: A pioneering settler family, circa 1900.
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