Naturalisation Certificate, NSW
Date Published
: legal restictions, White Australia policy (WAP), discrimination / racism
: Sydney
: Sydney
: 1884
A rare use of a colonial Naturalisation Certificate to obtain a Certificate Exempting the Dictation Test.
Ah Sam - Naturalisation certificate
Ah Sam was fortunate in being able to obtain naturalisation in the Colony of NSW in 1884 a few years before this became legally impossible for Chinese people. However, this did not mean he was treated as equal to other British subjects (there was no Australian citizenship until 1949) and when he wished to travel overseas, he, like many even Australian born people of Chinese heritage, was required to apply for a Certificate Exempting the Dictation Test should he wish to return to Australian without difficulty. Ah Sam had his NSW Naturalisation Certificate registered at the Customs House Sydney.
Ah Sam
Like many people Ah San was married and his wife resided in China where in 1928 he also had two young boys. He was then living in Newcastle where he ran a laundry. Ah Sam made frequent visits to his family in China and with the money earned in Australia probably built a substantial house and ensured the education of his children.
