White Australia (play)

White Australia is a 1910 play by Australian playwright, actor, and theatre manager, Beaumont Smith. The play is a melodrama that dramatized the perceived threat of Asian immigration to Australia and promoted the White Australia policy, a set of discriminatory laws restricting non-European immigration to Australia.

The play toured extensively throughout Australia in the early 20th century, playing to large audiences. Its narrative typically involved themes of racial purity, national identity, and the defense of white Australian culture against the perceived dangers of Asian encroachment. Characters often embodied stereotypical representations of both white Australians and Asian immigrants.

While popular at the time, White Australia is now primarily studied as a historical artifact that reflects the prevailing social attitudes and anxieties of its era. It provides insight into the xenophobia and racial prejudice that underpinned the White Australia policy and shaped Australian society during the early decades of the 20th century. The play is considered controversial due to its overtly racist themes and depictions. Modern analysis often focuses on deconstructing its propaganda and understanding its role in perpetuating harmful stereotypes. It is not generally performed today due to its offensive content.