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INTRODUCTION
Traditionally viewed as a 'fragment' of Europe v^hich became disconnected at
some point in time, Australia has seen little of itself reflected in its nearest neighbours
to the north. Approaching the latter part of the twentieth century, however,
Australians have been reaching out toward Asia in a way which would have been
unthinkable a mere 30 years ago. One of the significant contexts for this 'post-
European' orientation is that our national history is now understood to have been more
open-ended than traditionally perceived and has roots greater than those which link
Australia with Britain. Italian immigration is one key to this context, because it
highlights some of the ways in which Australia's particular mix of immigrants has
created a distinctly multicultural future for Australia. By successfully maintaining a
cultural distinctiveness within an Australian setting, Italian speakers (as one of the
nation's largest and most influential ethnic groups) have contributed to acceptance and
a greater tolerance for all ethnic groups. The Italian-speaking settlers of 1850s
Daylesford, in challenging the Anglo-centric attitudes of the local white population,
were among the first sizeable group of non-English speakers to help pave the way
towards this multicultural society. Australian governments and business people now
value the language skills of the various immigrant groups and recognise the advantages
of cultural exchange. There is now wider acceptance that indigenous peoples should
have greater say in Australian society, advising on such issues as v^se stewardship of
the land, in contrast to the earlier British fiction of terra nullius. In 1993, the
Australian government supported a proposal to replace pro-British symbols in the
Australian Defence Force. Similarly, debate on an Australian Head of State