Summary

Naturalisation Document issued to Henry Friedrich Hahn of Redesdale, Victoria on 18 May 1897. Henry was born in Kiel, Holstein, Germany, and arrived in Victoria on the ship Queen of the South in August 1865 from Liverpool, England. He was 53 and working as a butcher at Redesdale when he was naturalised.

The notation on the reverse of the document made on 11 February 1915 was probably used as part of a declaration by Henry to state he was a naturalised British subject and not an 'alien' during World War I. Aliens were non-British subjects/foreign nationals living in Australia. During World War I they were required to register with local authorities. By 1915 Henry had been living in Victoria for 50 years and was a naturalised British subject for 18 of those; he also had a son serving in the AIF. That he was required to almost re-establish his citizenship demonstrates the changes in Australian attitudes towards certain nationalities during World War I.

Physical Description

Certificate on parchment printed in black ink with handwritten personal details filled in, underscored in red ink. Also attached a half a crown duty stamp. There is a handwritten inscription in black ink on the back of the parchment.

Significance

This certificate is significant as it represents the last state-based naturalisation processes prior to Federation in 1901. It helps document the historical process of naturalisation and citizenship in Australia and trace local and empire definitions of nation and nationality, complex in the Australian context. The notation on the reverse is also of significance as it demonstrates how naturalised German-born citizens were required to almost redeclare their allegiance to Australia following the outbreak of World War I, regardless of the length of their residence, naturalisation and family position.

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