drama Ten Pound Poms captivated audiences two years ago as it followed the tale of Britons seeking fresh starts in Australia post-WWII. Now heading into season two, the likes of Michelle Keegan, Warren Brown and Faye Marsay will reprise their roles.
This six-part series delves into the lives of British emigrants who partook in a historic scheme that saw nearly a million individuals relocate down under.
But the Ten Pound Poms narrative is rooted in a real-life migration phenomenon. The term referred to British migrants who moved to Australia or New Zealand after World War II under government-assisted plans initiated by Australia in 1945 and New Zealand in 1947.
Part of the Australian “Populate or Perish” strategy, the project aimed to bolster the country’s population and workforce.
Faye Marsay as Annie and Warren Brown as Terry in Ten Pound Poms (Image: BBC?Eleven/John Platt)
The migration endeavour peaked in 1969, with over 80,000 participants making the cross-continental journey. Dubbed Ten Pound Poms because adults were charged just £10 for the administrative costs of their move—equivalent to around £350 today—children under 19 travelled free, reports
Although the price later rose to £75 in 1973, the successful scheme wasn’t terminated until 1982. The £10 scheme offered a six-week assisted passage on chartered ships and aircraft, promising good employment prospects, affordable housing, sunshine, and an optimistic life in Australia.
However, upon arrival, migrants were housed in basic migration hostels and the promised job opportunities were not always readily available.
Over a million Brits took advantage of the scheme (Image: Press Association)
The scheme saw nearly one million Brits emigrate to Australia and was later extended to residents of British colonies including Malta and Cyprus. Migrants were expected to stay in Australia for two years or refund the cost of their assisted passage.
The cost of a return journey was at least £120, equivalent to around £4,200 today, which most could not afford.
It is estimated that a quarter of the British migrants returned to the UK within the first two years – although half of these, known as “Boomerang Poms”, eventually returned to Australia.
Ten Pound Poms is available to watch on iPlayer.