Tongan Australians ( to, kau ʻAositelēlia Tonga) are

Australians Australians, colloquially known as Aussies, are the citizens, nationals and individuals associated with the country of Australia. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or ethno-cultural. For most Australians, several (or all) ...

who are of ethnic Tongan descent or

Tongans Tongans, a Polynesian group, represent more than 98% of the inhabitants of Tonga. The rest are European (the majority are British), mixed European, and other Pacific Islanders. There also are several hundred Chinese. Almost two-thirds of the pop ...

who hold Australian citizenship.

Background

According to the 2011 Australian census 10,560 Australians were born in Tonga, while 25,096 claimed Tongan ancestry. (table 9.1 of downloadable XL file: "Estimated resident population, Country of birth, State/territory, Age and sex - 30 June 2011") In 2006, 18,426 claimed Tongan ancestry, either alone or with another ancestry. Total responses: 25,451,383 for total count of persons: 19,855,288.

History

Tongans were historically subject to the

White Australia policy The White Australia policy is a term encapsulating a set of historical policies that aimed to forbid people of non-European ethnic origin, especially Asians (primarily Chinese) and Pacific Islanders, from immigrating to Australia, starting i ...

. In 1948, Akanesi Carrick – a cousin of Queen Sālote – and her two children were deported from Australia because of their race, despite being married to a British subject, Stewart Carrick. A Tongan man was deported from Australia in January 1975 because he had entered the country by "posing as a Maori". A decade later, another Tongan man sued the Australian Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs for racial discrimination, alleging the department was targeting Pacific Islanders in its administration of immigration law.

Population

Robinvale Tongan Wesleyan Methodist Church

Tongan migrants to Australia have tended to make their homes in the "arrival city" suburbs of Sydney's west. This pattern began in the 1970s, intensified in the 1980s, and continues today. However, Tongans aren't exclusively settling in Western Sydney and actually widespread all over Sydney. There are Tongan communities on the Northshore areas of Sydney, such as the Northern beaches, Hornsby & Ryde area, South Sydney & the Eastern Suburbs. As of 2011, over 60% of Tongan-born Australians live in the state of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

. The 2006 Australian census recorded that the majority of the Tongan Australians (4920 people) live in

, followed by

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

(with 1190 people) and

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

(1090). Despite there being relatively few Australians of Tongan descent, Tongan Australians have excelled in the football codes of

Rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

and

Rugby Union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

as evidenced by the list of notable Tongan Australians which include: *

Israel Folau Israel Folau ( to, ‘Isileli Folau; born 3 April 1989) is an Australian professional rugby union footballer who plays for the Shining Arcs in the Japan Rugby League One and the Tonga national rugby union team. He has previously played Aust ...

, tri-code footballer and dual code international, being a

State of Origin A State of Origin competition is a type of sporting event between players representing their state or territory. State of Origin began in Australian rules football on 8 October 1977 between Western Australia (WA) and Victoria, at Subiaco Oval ...

and Australian international Rugby League representative,

AFL AFL may refer to: Sports * American Football League (AFL), a name shared by several separate and unrelated professional American football leagues: ** American Football League (1926) (a.k.a. "AFL I"), first rival of the National Football Leagu ...

convert with GWS, and most recently Rugby Union convert and Australian international Rugby Union representative with the

NSW Waratahs The New South Wales Waratahs ( or ;), referred to as the Waratahs, are an Australian professional rugby union team representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super Rugby competition. The Riverina and other southern parts of the state ...

Super Rugby Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. Building on various Southern Hem ...

club. *

Gorden Tallis Gorden James Tallis (born 27 July 1973), also known by the nickname of "Raging Bull" for his on-field aggression, is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A Queensland State of Origin and ...

, former

Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Football Club Ltd., commonly referred to as the Broncos, is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in April 1987, the Broncos play in Australia's elite com ...

captain, and Queensland State of Origin and Australian International representative in Rugby League *

Viliami Ofahengaue Viliami Ofahengaue (born 3 May 1968 in Kolofoou, Tonga), widely known as Willie O, is a former rugby union player who earned 41 caps for the Australian Wallabies from 1990 to 1998, and played in the World Cups of 1991 and 1995 as well as the 19 ...

, affectionately known as ''Willie O'', former

Wallaby A wallaby () is a small or middle-sized Macropodidae, macropod native to Australia and New Guinea, with introduced populations in New Zealand, Hawaii, the United Kingdom and other countries. They belong to the same Taxonomy (biology), taxon ...

number eight and Flanker with 41 caps between 1990 and 1998, including the 1991 and 1995

World Cups A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities – usually international teams or individuals representing their countries – compete for the title of world champion. The event most associated with the concept i ...

Notable Tongan Australians

David Rodan David Rodan (born 8 October 1983) is an Australian rules football goal umpire and a retired professional footballer who played for the Richmond Tigers, Port Adelaide Power and the Melbourne Demons. Of Tongan heritage, Rodan is the first Fij ...

Rodney Blake Rodney Blake (born 29 April 1983) is an Australian professional rugby union footballer. He played as a prop in Super Rugby for the Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels, and played for Bayonne in the Top 14 in France. He is sometimes referred ...

Adam Coleman Adam Coleman (born 7 October 1991) is an Australian rugby union player living in England who plays lock for London Irish in the Gallagher Premiership. Career Coleman attended New Town High School in Hobart Tasmania. He represented Tasmania in u ...

Jim Dymock Jim Dymock (born 4 April 1972) is a professional rugby league coach who is the assistant coach of the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL and a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A Tonga and Australia inter ...

Anthony Fainga'a Anthony Fainga'a (born 2 February 1987) is an Australian former professional rugby union footballer. His usual position is centre. Family and early life Anthony Fainga'a was born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, and started playing rugby leagu ...

Saia Fainga'a Saia Fainga'a (born 2 February 1987) is an Australian professional rugby union footballer. Family and early life Saia Fainga'a was born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, and started playing rugby union at the age of 11 or 12 at the Queanbeyan c ...

Andrew Fifita Andrew Fifita ( to, ʻAnitelū Fifita) (born 28 June 1989) is a retired professional rugby league footballer who played as a . He has played for Tonga and Australia at international level. Fifita previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland ...

Mahe Fonua Mahe Fonua (born 24 December 1992) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a or er for Doncaster RLFC in the RFL League 1. He has previously played for the Melbourne Storm and the Wests Tigers in the NRL and Hull FC in ...

Tyson Frizell Tyson Lomano David Frizell (born 9 October 1991) is a professional rugby league footballer who usually plays as a er for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL. He has played for Wales in the 2011 Four Nations and 2013 Rugby League World Cup and Aust ...

Mark Gerrard Mark Gerrard (born 4 September 1982) is a former Australian professional rugby union footballer. He currently is the assistant coach for the Austin Gilgronis in Major League Rugby (MLR) competition in the United States. In 2011, he was one o ...

Solomon Haumono Solomon Haumono ( to, Solomone Haumono; born 13 October 1975) is a former professional boxer and former rugby league footballer of Tongan descent. Early life He attended Newtown Boys High School, Newtown, New South Wales. He then went on to C ...

John Hopoate John Hopoate (born 16 January 1974 in Tonga) is a former professional rugby league player and boxer who was involved in numerous sport controversies and subsequently convicted for violent crimes. He played rugby league in the Tonga national ru ...

William Hopoate William Hopoate (born 9 May 1992), also known as Viliami in Tongan, also known by the nickname of "Hoppa", is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a and on the for the St Helens in the Super League. He played for the ...

* Michael Jennings *

Toutai Kefu Toutai Kefu (born 8 April 1974) is a Tonga-born rugby coach, who earned 60 caps playing at number eight for the Australian national team (the Wallabies). Kefu is currently the head coach of the Tongan national team having previously coached th ...

Brent Kite Brent Kite (born 7 March 1981) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. A Tonga and Australia international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative front-row forward, he played club ...

* Tony Williams *

Leilani Latu Leilani Latu (born 5 February 1993) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who played as a most recently for the Warrington Wolves in the Super League. Latu has spent time on loan from Warrington at the Widnes Vikings in the Betfred ...

Hau Latukefu Langomi-e-Hau Latukefu (born 1976), better known as Hau Latukefu, or sometimes MC Hau or simply Hau, is an Australian hip hop musician and radio host. He is best known as half of the duo Koolism (with Danielsan) and as the host of Triple J's hi ...

Uli Latukefu Talia'uli Latukefu is an Australian actor and singer, best known for his roles as Dwayne Johnson in the NBC comedy ''Young Rock'' and Byamba in the American Netflix series '' Marco Polo''. He also played Darren Ngata in the popular Australian ...

Willie Manu Viliami Makamaile "Willie" Manu (born 20 March 1980) is a former Tonga international rugby league footballer. He played as a second-row forward, he previously played in the National Rugby League for Australian clubs the Wests Tigers, South Syd ...

Willie Mason Viliami William Marshall Mason (born 15 April 1980), also nicknamed "Big Willie", is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. An Australia and Tonga international and New South Wales State of Origin rep ...

Feleti Mateo Feleti Sosefo Mateo (born 2 June 1984) is a former Tonga international rugby league footballer. He played a variety of positions from and five-eighth. Mateo was also selected to represent NSW City Origin and the NRL All Stars. He last played ...

Wycliff Palu Wycliff Palu (born 27 July 1982), known as Cliffy Palu, is an Australian former professional rugby union footballer of Tongan descent. He played for the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby and represented in 58 tests. Early life Palu was ...

Tevita Pangai Junior Tevita Pangai Junior (born 4 February 1996) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a and for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL. He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos and Penrith Panthers with whom w ...

Mosese Pangai Mosese Pangai (born 18 December 1991), anglicised Moses Pangai, is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who last played as a or on the for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL. Background Pangai was born in Newcastle, New South ...

Tatafu Polota-Nau Sione 'Utukiveisini Tatafu Polota-Nau (born 26 July 1985) is an Australian rugby union player who recently played for Parramatta Two Blues in Australia's Shute Shield. He joined the club in December 2017. Family and early life Polota-Nau was bo ...

* George Smith *

Willie Tonga Villiami Sione "Willie" Tonga (born 8 August 1983), also known by the nickname of "Little Willie", is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Leigh Centurions in the Super League. An Australia internat ...

Anthony Tupou Anthony Tupou (born 1 March 1983) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a and in the 2000s and 2010s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative, he played for the Sydney Roosters, ...

Jorge Taufua Jorge Taufua () (born 23 October 1991) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a er for Wakefield Trinity in the Betfred Super League. He has played for both Tonga and Samoa at international level. Taufua has previously played f ...

Moses Suli Mosese "Moses" Suli (born 9 June 1998) is a Tonga international rugby league player who plays as a and er for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL. Suli previously played for the Wests Tigers, was signed by the Canterbury-Bankstown ...

Manase Fainu Manase Fainu (born 17 October 1998) is a former Tonga international rugby league footballer who played as a for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL before he was convicted of a violent crime and sentenced to eight years in prison. Back ...

Brenko Lee Brenko Lee (born 10 October 1995) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a and er for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League. Lee previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders, Canterbury-Bankstown Bu ...

Tevita Funa Tevita Funa (born 3 January 1998) is a professional rugby union footballer for the New South Wales Waratahs and a former rugby league and for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL. Early life Funa was born in Sydney, Australia, and is ...

* Haumole Olakauatu *

Kelepi Tanginoa Kelepi Tanginoa () (born 1 March 1994). Tanginoa is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a forward and for Wakefield Trinity in the Super League. He previously played for the Parramatta Eels, North Queensland Cowb ...

Siosaia Vave Siosaia Vave () is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a for the St Mary's Saints in the Ron Massey Cup. He previously played for the Parramatta Eels, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Melb ...

Tony Satini Tony Satini (born 29 August 1993) is a Tonga national rugby league team, Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a for the North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup. He previously played for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the Mo ...

* Michael Oldfield * David Fifita *

John Asiata Atalani "John" Asiata (born 19 April 1993) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a and for the Leigh Leopards in the Betfred Super League and has played for both Samoa and Tonga at international level. He previously played ...

Hame Sele Hame Sele (born 12 November 1996) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a forward for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL). He previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragon ...

* Keaon Koloamatangi *

Tevita Tatola Tevita "Junior" Tatola (born 10 November 1996) is a Tonga national rugby league team, Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League, NRL. Background Tatola was born in A ...

Siosifa Talakai Siosifa Talakai (born 18 April 1997) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a or for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL. He previously played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League. Backg ...

* Robert Jennings *

George Jennings George Jennings (10 November 1810 – 17 April 1882) was an English sanitary engineer and plumber who invented the first public flush toilets. Josiah George Jennings was born on 10 November 1810 in Eling, at the edge of the New Forest in Hamp ...

Manase Manuokafoa Manase Manuokafoa (born 24 March 1985) is a former Tongan international rugby league footballer who last played as a for RC Albi XIII in the Elite One Championship. Background He was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Playing care ...

John Folau John Folau (born 23 September 1994) is a rugby league and rugby union footballer who plays for the Sydney Rays in the National Rugby Championship competition. He is a former Tonga international rugby league footballer. Background Folau was b ...

Vai Toutai Vai Toutai (born 28 January 1993) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who last played as a and on the for the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW. Background Born in Campbelltown, New South Wales, T ...

* Esikeli Tonga *

Richard Fa'aoso Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'strong ...

* Sione Masima *

Taniela Lasalo Taniela Lasalo is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a forward or as a for the Hills District Bulls in the Ron Massey Cup. Background He is of Tongan descent. Playing career 2009–14: Career at Parramatta L ...

* Pat Politoni *

Atelea Vea Atelea Vea is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who last played for the Leigh Centurions in the Super League. He plays as a or forward. He has previously played for the Melbourne Storm, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, St. George Illawa ...

* Andrew Emelio *

Samisoni Langi Samisoni Langi (born 11 June 1993) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a and for Wakefield Trinity in the Betfred Super League. Langi previously played for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL, and for the Leigh Centurions and t ...

Mickey Paea Mickey Paea (born 25 March 1986) is a former Tonga national rugby league team, Tonga international rugby league footballer who played as a . He previously played for the Sydney Roosters, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulld ...

Danny Fualalo Danny Fualalo (born 20 October 1994) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL. Background Fualalo was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is of Tongan ...

Asipele Fine Asipeli Fine (born 26 October 1992) is a Tonga national rugby league team, Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup. He plays as a and . He previously played for the Wests Tigers an ...

Andrew Tangata-Toa Andrew Tangata-Toa (born 15 February 1974) is a Tongan former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s. Primarily a er, he played for the Newcastle Knights, St George Dragons and Huddersfield Giants. Background Born on the ...

Jamil Hopoate Jamil Hopoate (born 8 November 1994) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and convicted criminal who last played as a and for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League (NRL). Background He was born and raised ...

David Hala David Hala (Born 25 October 1989) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup. He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos and the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. He made his NRL ...

Andrew Lomu Andrew Lomu (born 28 February 1979) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He previously played as a for the Sydney Roosters, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Canberra Raiders and for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL. Backgro ...

Tevita Metuisela Tevita Metuisela (born 16 October 1983 in Manly, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby union and rugby league footballer. Rugby League In rugby league Metuisela played as a prop or second row forward, and appeared for the Syd ...

Sione Kite Sione Kite (born 14 January 1988), also known as John Kite is an Australian rugby league footballer for the Thirlmere Roosters in the Group 6 Rugby League. He previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm in the ...

Lelea Paea Lelea Paea (born 6 January 1983 in Sydney, New South Wales) is a former Tonga international rugby league footballer. He previously played for Coca-Cola West Red Sparks rugby union in Japan. He usually plays centre, but has played in wing at ti ...

Vika Bull Vika and Linda, also known as Vika and Linda Bull, are an Australian vocal duo consisting of Vika Susan Bull (born 1966) and her younger sister, Linda Rose Bull . They came to prominence after singing backing vocals in Joe Camilleri's band The ...

Linda Bull Vika and Linda, also known as Vika and Linda Bull, are an Australian vocal duo consisting of Vika Susan Bull (born 1966) and her younger sister, Linda Rose Bull . They came to prominence after singing backing vocals in Joe Camilleri's band The ...

References

{{Ethnic groups in Australia Polynesian Australian Tongan diaspora

Background

History

Population

Notable Tongan Australians

See also

References