Australia’s first soccer club, The Wanderers, formed in Sydney in 1880. While soccer was played widely, it wasn’t a major sport—until the 1950s. After World War II, large numbers of British and Southern European migrants arrived in Australia, many with a deep love for soccer.

For new arrivals—especially those who didn’t speak English—soccer became a way to connect with their communities and feel part of Australian life. Clubs often formed around ethnic identities, such as Greek, Macedonian and Italian communities.

At the time, some Australians saw soccer as a ‘foreign’ game and used racist terms to describe it. In later decades, soccer authorities worked to ‘de-ethnicise’ clubs to broaden the sport’s appeal. Many clubs changed their names—for example:

• South Melbourne Hellas became South Melbourne FC

• Preston Makedonia became Preston Lions FC

This shift helped soccer grow but left many supporters feeling like they’d lost part of their community identity.

Soccer’s popularity surged in 2006, when the Socceroos competed in the FIFA World Cup. By 2017, more than 1.1 million Australians were playing the sport—making it the most played sport in the country.

Basketball was first played in Australia in Adelaide in 1897—just 6 years after it was invented in the United States. But it didn’t take off nationally until 1979, when the National Basketball League (NBL) was formed.

In the 1980s, Australian basketball grew rapidly. Teams began signing players from the US, including former NBA players. These athletes lifted the sport’s profile and attracted more fans.

One standout was Robert Rose, who played for the LA Clippers before moving to Australia in 1992. Over the next 15 years, he played for five NBL teams, won MVP twice and competed in three grand finals. He eventually settled in Townsville with his family and ran a restaurant.

Today, basketball is one of Australia’s most popular sports—especially among migrant communities. It’s the 7th most played club sport, with around 540,000 players. It’s also especially popular with the South Sudanese Australian community.