Summary

Certificate of Alien Registration issued to Setsutaro Hasegawa on 19 January 1940, following the outbreak of World War II. Many Australian residents were given alien status during the War and were subsequently interned.

Setsutaro migrated to Australia from Japan in 1897 at the age of 26, just four years before the introduction of the Immigration Restriction Act which severely limited migration to Australia from countries in Asia. He established a laundry business in Geelong and by 1911 he had married an Australian-born woman and had three children.

In 1941 Setsutaro was arrested as an enemy alien and sent to Tatura internment camp in northern Victoria. Released early in 1943 due to his age and poor health, unlike most Japanese interns he was not deported to Japan after the War. Setsutaro remained in Geelong for the rest of his life and died in 1952.

Physical Description

Folded brown card with black type on all four sides. The front page contains Setsutaro's details, including; nationality, birth date, occupation, date of entry to Australia and residential address. Inside the document is a photograph of Setsutaro, finger print and signature and personal description. The third page has a space for listing changes of address. The back page has extensive printed text regarding alien regulations.

Significance

The Hasegawa collection enables the exploration of a number of important historical themes relating to migration, working life, and wartime internment in Victoria. Late nineteenth century and early to mid twentieth century Japanese migration and settlement experiences are little represented in the museum's collections and this collection of clothing, documents, personal items and photographs helps to redress.

More Information