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<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <title>Americans - Entry - eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <link rel="schema.DC" href="http://purl.org/DC/elements/1.0/" /> <meta name="DC.Title" lang="en" content="Americans - Entry - eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online" /> <meta name="DC.Creator" lang="en" content="School of Historical Studies, Department of History, The University of Melbourne" /> <meta name="DC.Subject" lang="en" content="Americans - Entry - eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online, Victoria, Melbourne, history, heritage, eMelbourne, encyclopedia, architecture, education, fine arts, literature, health, immigration, ethnicity, politics, government, philanthropy, religion, science, nature, social life, customs, sport, transport" /> <meta name="DC.Description" lang="en" content="Americans - Entry - eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online - eMelbourne is a biographical, bibliographical and archival database about Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, with links to related articles and images." /> <meta name="DC.Publisher" lang="en" content="School of Historical Studies<br /> Department of History, The University of Melbourne" /> <meta name="DC.Date.Created" scheme="ISO8601" lang="en" content="2008-06-26" /> <meta name="DC.Date.LastModified" scheme="ISO8601" lang="en" content="2015-05-27" /> <meta name="DC.Type" lang="en" content="Document" /> <meta name="DC.Format" scheme="IMT" lang="en" content="text/html" /> <meta name="DC.Identifier" scheme="URL" lang="en" content="http://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00062b.htm" /> <meta name="DC.Language" scheme="ISO639" lang="en" content="en-gb" /> <meta name="DC.Rights" lang="en" content="Copyright of Cultural Heritage Unit, School of Historical Studies, The University of Melbourne" /> <meta name="Author" lang="en" content="School of Historical Studies, Department of History, The University of Melbourne" /> <meta name="Description" lang="en" content="Americans - Entry - eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online, eMelbourne is a biographical, bibliographical and archival database about Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, with links to related articles and images." /> <meta name="Keywords" lang="en" content="Americans - Entry - eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online, Victoria, Melbourne, history, heritage, eMelbourne, encyclopedia, architecture, education, fine arts, literature, health, immigration, ethnicity, politics, government, philanthropy, religion, science, nature, social life, customs, sport, transport" /> <meta name="Generator" content="Online Heritage Resource Manager (OHRM) V Alpha 2.16++++" /> <meta name="EAC" lang="en" content="http://www.emelbourne.net.au/eac/EM00062.xml" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="../stylesheets/emelb.css" type="text/css" media="screen, projection" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="../stylesheets/emelb-print.css" type="text/css" media="print" />  <script type="text/JavaScript" src="../stylesheets/dobjects.js"></script> <script type="text/JavaScript" src="../stylesheets/expand.js"></script> </head> <body id="entity" class="EM00008"> <div id="banner"> <h1 class="hidden">eMelbourne</h1> <h2 class="hidden">The City Past & Present</h2> <a href="#start-of-content" title="skip to content" id="skip">Skip to content</a> <ul id="sitenav"> <li><a href="../index.html">Home</a></li> <li><a href="../about.html">About</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="../help.html">Help</a></li> </ul> <hr class="hidden" /> </div> <div id="contentcontainer1"> <div id="entrynav"> <ul> <li class="entitydobject_nodisplay"><a href="../biogs/gallery/EM00062g.htm">Resources</a></li> <li class="entity"><a href="../biogs/EM00062b.htm">Entry</a></li> </ul> </div> <ol id="prinav"> <li class="EM00001"><a href="../biogs/EM00001b.htm">Themes</a></li> <li class="atoz"><a href="../browse_a.htm">A to Z</a></li> <li class="search"><a href="../basic-search.html">Search</a></li> </ol> <div id="contentnav">  <ul id="secnav"> <li id="EM00001" class="secnavfirst"><a href="../biogs/EM00001b.htm">Aboriginal Melbourne</a></li> <li id="EM00002"><a href="../biogs/EM00002b.htm">Architecture & Planning</a></li> <li id="EM00003"><a href="../biogs/EM00003b.htm">Business & Industry</a></li> <li id="EM00009"><a href="../biogs/EM00009b.htm">Crime, Law & Order</a></li> <li id="EM00005"><a href="../biogs/EM00005b.htm">Culture</a></li> <li id="EM00007"><a href="../biogs/EM00007b.htm">Early Settlement</a></li> <li id="EM00004"><a href="../biogs/EM00004b.htm">Education</a></li> <li id="EM00008"><a href="../biogs/EM00008b.htm">Ethnicity & Demography</a></li> <li id="EM00006"><a href="../biogs/EM00006b.htm">Health & Well Being</a></li> <li id="EM00010"><a href="../biogs/EM00010b.htm">Media & Communications</a></li> <li id="EM00011"><a href="../biogs/EM00011b.htm">Military & Defence</a></li> <li id="EM00013"><a href="../biogs/EM00013b.htm">Politics & Government</a></li> <li id="EM00014"><a href="../biogs/EM00014b.htm">Reform, Charity & Philanthropy</a></li> <li id="EM00015"><a href="../biogs/EM00015b.htm">Religion</a></li> <li id="EM00016"><a href="../biogs/EM00016b.htm">Science, Nature, Geography</a></li> <li id="EM00017"><a href="../biogs/EM00017b.htm">Social Life & Customs</a></li> <li id="EM00018"><a href="../biogs/EM00018b.htm">Sport & Recreation</a></li> <li id="EM00021"><a href="../biogs/EM00021b.htm">Streets & Lanes</a></li> <li id="EM00022"><a href="../biogs/EM00022b.htm">Suburbs & Localities</a></li> <li id="EM00019"><a href="../biogs/EM00019b.htm">Transport</a></li> <li id="EM00012"><a href="../biogs/EM00012b.htm">Urban Environment</a></li> </ul> <ul id="browsenav"> <li id="browseEntity" class="secnavfirst"><a href="../browse_a.htm">Entries</a></li> <li id="browseDobject"><a href="../browse_a_dobjects.htm">Digital Resources</a></li> <li id="browsePub"><a href="../bib/browse_a_bib.htm">Bibliography</a></li> <li id="browseArc" class="secnavlast"><a href="../archives/browse_a_arc.htm">Archives</a></li> </ul> </div> <hr class="hidden" /> <div id="entrytext"> <div id="add"> <h2 class="hidden">Multimedia Content</h2> </div> <div id="entrybodytext"> <h2 id="masthead">Americans</h2> <p>A presence since the gold rush, American immigrants have had an influence on Melbourne well beyond their numbers, establishing the first fire brigade, the Hobsons Bay Railway Pier at Port Melbourne, and J.C. Williamson's theatrical productions. From the 1920s, American companies set up manufacturing plants, while local retailers increasingly adopted American methods. Postwar suburban development was dominated by such American innovations as the drive-in cinema, motel, shopping mall and freeway. Since the 1970s, American fast-food chains have become increasingly prominent. The 'Americanisation' of Australian popular culture has been evident since the 1920s; electronic and print media have substantial American content. </p> <p>Defence has been central to the Australian-American relationship. When the Great White Fleet arrived at St Kilda Pier in August 1908, the response was enthusiastic. Thousands welcomed US General Douglas MacArthur, who arrived in Melbourne on 21 March 1942, followed by 30 000 troops, garrisoned in requisitioned buildings and parks, including Camp Pell in Royal Park and Camp Murphy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Although US military headquarters moved north in August 1942, service personnel remained in Melbourne until 1945, stimulating the economy but straining entertainment facilities. GIs described Melbourne as 'half as big as New York cemetery and twice as dead'. Relations were generally harmonious, with the Brownout murders a notorious but isolated exception. The first meeting of a Friendship Club in 1943 attracted 300 wives or fianc茅es of US servicemen, most of whom emigrated to the US after the war. </p> <p>The Australian American Association, which began as the Australian American Co-operative Movement in 1943, continues to promote political, business and cultural ties from its South Melbourne headquarters. An American consulate has operated since the 1930s from different locations on St Kilda Road, and has been a focus of anti-war demonstrations. While the immigrant American community has remained relatively small in Melbourne, from the early 1990s growth in recreational and educational tourism has increased the presence of Americans in the city. </p> <p id="entryauthor">Kate Darian-Smith</p> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <h2 class="hidden">Footer</h2> <div id="footernav"> <ul> <li class="first"><a href="../index.html">Home</a></li> <li><a href="../about.html">About</a></li>  <li><a href="../help.html">Help</a></li> <li><a href="../browse_a.htm">A to Z</a></li> <li><a href="../basic-search.html">Search</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="footertext"> Produced and published by the School of Historical & Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne<br /> Published July 2008 </div> <h2 class="hidden">Partners</h2> <div id="partnerlogos"> <a href="http://www.unimelb.edu.au/"><img src="../images/w_mu_logo.gif" alt="Melbourne University Logo" /></a> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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