Historical information

A copy of Dimitri (known as James) Sofianos' Commonwealth of Australia Naturalisation Certificate issued from Sydney on 22 June 1928. Australian citizenship offered significant rights and was therefore taken up by many Ithacan migrants once they became established and when they fulfilled the requirements which at the time of Dimitri's naturalization were more onerous for those who were not 'natural born' British subjects.

Significance

Prior to 1949, Australian naturalisation meant citizens became British subjects. It was not until 26 January 1949 the status of Australian citizen was created when the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 came into force. And it was not until the 1973 under the Whitlam Labor government that the distinction between migrants from Commonwealth and other countries in terms of ability to become Australian citizens was abolished. The previous residence requirements of 1 year (Commonwealth migrants) and 5 years (non-Commonwealth migrants) to become Australian citizens was replaced by a common residence period of 3 years, but with a six-month transition period.

Physical description

A scanned copy on A4 paper of a certificate of Naturalization.