Historical information

The Certificate of Registration of an alien was issued to a non-British subject who was not an enemy but was residing on a permanent basis in Australia. This document was issued to Nicholas Alexander Black who was born on the Greek island of Ithaca in 1885 and had emigrated to Australia and settled in Geraldton, Western Australia in 1916. He was the proprietor of the Federal Coffee Palace, in Geraldton at the time the certificate was issued. The certificates were issued by the Commonwealth of Australia under the Department of Defence as a result of the War Precautions (Aliens Registration) Regulation 1916. The recipient of the certificate was obliged to carry it with him at all times.

Significance

The Certificate of Registration of an Alien is an example of the regulations in place during the first half of the twentieth century as part of Australia's immigration policy which placed restrictions on non-British European immigration as a means of ensuring that Australia's population remained essentially British. At the time non-British Europeans immigrants to Australia were unassisted. Family members already settled in Australia were required to guarantee the new-comer's support.

Physical description

A certificate of registration of an alien issued by the Commonwealth Department of Defence.