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Produced and published by the School of Historical & Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne
Published July 2008
Published July 2008
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The Malaysian community in Melbourne reflects the multicultural diversity of Malaysia. The earliest contacts with the country were through the many Australians who worked in British Malaya between the wars as planters and miners. The first influx from Malaya was during World War II. This continued during the Malayan Emergency, but became more extensive with the increased prosperity of Malaysia. Most of the Malaysian community in Melbourne have Chinese backgrounds, but in recent years migrants are also from Malay and Indian communities. Large numbers live in Box Hill, and smaller numbers in Templestowe and Wheelers Hill. As well as migrants, from the 1990s many Malaysians have come to Melbourne as students (in 1996, 4000 at universities and tertiary colleges, and 350 at schools).