The White Australia policy, which severely restricted entry of non-British immigrants, was a key expression of the new nation's identity. Tariff protection and immigration restrictions were considered essential to the survival of a European nation at the edge of Asia and the Pacific. The medal employed the metal aluminium to visually proclaim that Australia should be white.

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Obverse – A map of Australia in aluminium, with the legend WHITE AUSTRALIA. Around this on a brass rim are the words AUSTRALIA FOR THE AUSTRALIANS.		Reverse – The back of the map of Australia with the word PROTECTION. Around this on the brass rim is the legend POPULATION PRODUCTION PROGRESS.

Transferred from National Gallery of Victoria, 1976