Pariahs and outcasts: Christian missions to the Chinese in Victoria in the nineteenth century

The population of Australia is, overwhelmingly, of immigrant origin. Like other immigrant societies, Australia has long been faced with the challenge of creating an economic and political entity which possesses the primary loyalties of its residents, while accepting variation as normal in social, linguistic and other aspects of life.

For most of its history, the major source of immigrants to Australia has been the United Kingdom and Ireland. As the dominant culture, this group, English-speaking, Christian in religion and ethical outlook, and European in culture, approached cultural difference in a very simple and direct manner. Neu arrivals uere encouraged, by overt and hidden means, to accept the established ideological system, speak the common language, uork uithin the social, structure, and conform to the explicit and Implicit norms of everyday life.