1911 Australia Census

First Commonwealth Census
General information
Country Commonwealth of Australia
Date taken 3 April 1911 (1911-04-03)
Total population 4,455,005
Percent change Increase 18.05%
Most populous state/territory New South Wales (1,646,734)
Least populous state/territory Federal Territory (1,714)

The 1911 Australia Census was the first national population census held in Australia. The day used for the census, was taken for the night between the 2 and 3 April 1911. The total population of the Commonwealth of Australia was counted as 4,455,005 - an increase of 681,204 people, 18.05% since the 1901 "Federation" Census.[1][lower-alpha 1][2]

The Census Volumes II and III were published on 30 September 1914. At that time it was intended to issue shortly thereafter Volume 1.[3]

Collection method

The first Commonwealth Statistician was George Handley Knibbs. He began his career as a licensed surveyor in government service. In April 1911, a Monday, census collectors set out all over Australia under mostly clear skies to begin gathering in Australia’s first national census forms. They covered suburbs to rural towns and the outback. They travelled by bike or horse where they had the transport that was needed to cover large areas, however, most travelled by foot. Some in Northern Queensland had to find their way through a flooded landscape while others in South Australia had difficulties finding water and fodder for their horses due to droughts. They had distributed the forms prior to the census day.[4]

Collectors had to supply their own transport and cover any associated costs such as fodder and petrol. They were paid according to their method of transport. Collectors on foot were paid ten shilling a day, those on bicycle fifteens shillings a day and those on horse 20 shillings a day. Police were used in the days immediately following the census to get travellers, swagmen and campers to provide their information. Train conductors and ships' captains were also used as collectors in the 1911 census and several subsequent censuses, to cover people travelling overnight on census night.[5]

Census questions

For Every Person present in the Night from 2 to 3 April 1911, or returning on 3rd April (if not included elsewhere).[6]

Population and dwellings

Population counts for Australian states and territories had 4,455,005 and 19,939 full-Aboriginals for a total population of 4,474,944.[7]
Note: All figures are for the census usually resident population count.

States and Territories Males Females Total
States
New South Wales 857,698789,036 1,646,734
Victoria 655,591 659,9601,315,551
Queensland 329,506 276,307605,813
South Australia 207,358 201,200408,558
Western Australia 161,565 120,549282,114
Tasmania 97,591 93,620191,211
Territories
Northern Territory 2,734 5763,310
Federal Territory 992 7221,714
Australia Commonwealth of Australia 2,313,035 2,141,9704,455,005
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[lower-alpha 2][8][9]
States and Territories Males Females Total
States
    New South Wales 1,152860 2,012
    Victoria 103 93196
    Queensland 5,145 3,5428,687
    South Australia 802 6371,439
    Western Australia 3,433 2,9366,369
    Tasmania 2 13
Territories
    Northern Territory 7434801,223
    Federal Territory 5 510
Australia Commonwealth 11,3858,55419,939
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Full-blooded Australian Aboriginals Enumerated in the several states and territories.
[10]

Birthplace

At the Census of the 3rd April, 1911, each person was asked to state on a " personal" card, the" Country or Australian State where born," and to state on a "personal" card, the Country or Australian State where born," and from the replies to this query, taken in conjunction with the other data furnished, the tables contained in Part II.[11]

Country Population
Percent
Australasia 3,699,538 -
Australia Australian-born3,667,670 82.90%
     New South Wales1,315,030 -
     Victoria1,181,787 -
     Queensland415,064 -
     South Australia394,768 -
     Western Australia114,550 -
     Tasmania193,770 -
     Northern Territory710 -
     Australia (undefined)51,991 -
Totals, Overseas-born787,335 17.10%
New Zealand New Zealand31,868 0.72%
Europe 664,671 15.02%
England England 346,030 7.75%
Scotland Scotland 93,083 -
Isle of Man Isle of Man 1,007 -
United Kingdom Ireland139,434 -
Wales Wales 12,175 -
United Kingdom Other European British pos.2,378 -
Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary2,774 -
Belgium Belgium339 -
Denmark Denmark5,663 -
France France2,876 -
Germany32,990 -
Greece1,798 -
Italy6,719 -
Netherlands Netherlands745 -
Norway Norway3,451 -
Portugal Portugal173 -
Russia Russia4,456 -
Spain658 -
Sweden Sweden5,586 -
Switzerland Switzerland1,736 -
Other European Countries600 -
Asia36,442 0.82%
China20,775 -
Africa4,958 0.11%
South Africa (undefined)2,525 -
America11,278 0.25%
United States United States of America6,642 -
Canada Canada2,944 -
Polynesia3,410 0.08%
United Kingdom Fiji852 -
At sea 4,238 0.10%
Unspecified 30,470 -
Totals, Commonwealth 4,455,005 100.0%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (Part II. Birthplaces)[12]

Race

At the first Australian census in 1911 only those "aboriginal natives" living near European settlements were enumerated, and the main population tables included only those of half or less Aboriginal descent. Details of those "full-blood" Aborigines enumerated were included in separate tables.[13]

Race Population Percentage
European 4,402,662 98.83%
Full-Aboriginal (counted separately)* 19,939 -
Totals, others 52,343 1.17%
Aboriginal (half)10,113 0.23%
Asiatic 38,690 0.87%
     Chinese 25,772 -
     Hindus 3,698 -
     Japanese 3,576 -
African 693 0.01%
American 89 0.00%
     American Indians 51 -
Polynesian 2,751 0.06%
     Polynesians (so described) 2,197 -
Indefinite 7 0.00%
Australia Commonwealth of Australia4,455,005 100.00%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics*Counted separately to the grand totals given.

Religion

According to these figures it appears that of the 4,455,005 souls in Australia on census day (April 3. 1911) 4,274,414 were Christians, 36,785 non-Christians, 14,673 are described as indefinite, 10,016 were of no religion, 83,003 objected to state to what faith, if any, they belonged, and the remaining 36,114 were unspecified.

Religion. 1911 Census
Number Percentage
Christian 4,274,414 95.95%
    Church of England 1,710,443 38.4%
    Presbyterians 558,336 -
    Methodists 547,806 -
    Baptist 97,074 -
    Congregational 74,046 -
    Lutheran 72,395 -
    Church of Christ 38,748 -
    Salvation Army 26,665 -
    Seventh-day Adventist 6,095 -
    Unitarian 2,175 -
     Protestant (undefined) 109,861 -
    Roman; Catholic 921,425 20.7%
    Greek Catholic 2,646 -
     Catholic (undefined) 75,379 -
     Others 31,320 -
Non-Christian 36,785
    Hebrew 17,287 -
    Confucian 5,194 -
    Mohammedan 3,908 -
    Buddhist 3,269 -
    Pagan 1,447 -
     Others5,680 -
Indefinite 14,673
    Freethinker3,254 -
    Agnostic3,084 -
     No Denomination2,688 -
    Others5,647 -
No Religion 10,016
    No Religion9,251 -
    Atheist579 -
    Others186 -
Object to state83,003 -
Unspecified36,114 -
Grand total .. 4,455,005 100.00%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics[14]

See also

Notes

  1. (Excluding the Dwellings occupied solely by Full-blooded Aboriginals).
  2. At the Census of 3rd April, 1911 (Full-blooded Aboriginals not included).

References

  1. Census of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1911, Australian Bureau of Statistics
  2. Census of The Commonwealth Of Australia, 1911. PART XIV.-SUMMARY TABLES
  3. VOLUME I. STATISTICIAN'S REPORT INCLUDING APPENDICES]
  4. Reflecting a Nation: Stories from the 2011 Census, July 2011
  5. Reflecting a Nation: Stories from the 2011 Census, July 2011
  6. SPECIMEN OF A FILLED IN PERSONAL CARD. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. CENSUS, 3rd APRIL, 1911.
  7. Census of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1911, Australian Bureau of Statistics
  8. Census of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1911, Australian Bureau of Statistics
  9. Census of The Commonwealth Of Australia, 1911. PART XIV.-SUMMARY TABLES
  10. Census of The Commonwealth Of Australia, 1911. PART XIV.-SUMMARY TABLES
  11. Census of The Commonwealth Of Australia STATISTICIAN'S REPORT INCLUDING APPENDICES.
  12. Census of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1911, Australian Bureau of Statistics
  13. Madden, Richard; Al-Yaman, Fadwa (2003). "How Statisticians Describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples" (PDF). 2003 Seminars on Health and Society: An Australian Indigenous Context. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Retrieved 25 June 2006.
  14. Census of The Commonwealth Of Australia, 1911. PART XIV.-SUMMARY TABLES (Page: 2111) Religion.
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