Australia doesn’t have Amish communities with Amish ancestry. The Amish mostly live in the United States and Canada. In Australia, there’s no Amish community due to differences in culture and distance.
Despite Australia’s diversity, the Amish way of life is just not a thing there.
However, there are Anabaptist groups in Tasmania, with a few in Queensland and New South Wales. They don’t all live like the Amish, it’s more about religion than a lifestyle for them. Some use technology, but some families opt for an Amish-like simplicity.
What About the McCallums?
If you google “the McCallums, Australian Amish”, you’ll come across an article published by the Sidney Morning Herald in 2018 about “The McCallums, one of Australia’s few Amish families”.
However, the McCallums don’t have Amish ancestry but adopted the Amish lifestyle. They live without modern conveniences such as electricity, cars, and modern gadgets, and they adhere to the principles of simplicity, faith, and self-sufficiency embraced by the Amish community.
Does that make them Amish?
Well, I’ll let you be the judge of that. Let’s take a closer look at their lifestyle. Here’s a quick summary of the SMH article:
Back in 2008, Gregory McCallum, a successful 31-year-old with a booming movable hen house business, faced stress and burnout.
During a beach getaway with his wife, Bethany, Gregory was moved to tears by a novel called “Henry and the Great Society.” This 1969 book depicted a farmer’s life before and after modernization. The story resonated with Gregory, prompting him to desire a simpler, stress-free life away from the modern system.
Fueled by this revelation, the McCallums sold their business and house, moved to Tasmania, and adopted the Amish lifestyle.
In Tasmania, the McCallums live without electricity, cars, and modern gadgets. They run a roadside stall for income, selling produce and handmade items.
The McCallums’ dream of establishing an Amish community in Tasmania faced some major obstacles. Some families tried but struggled with the complete rejection of modern conveniences and left.
The family spends time together, engaging in activities like card games, Bible readings, and chores. They grow their own food, avoiding the hustle of modern supermarkets. The children are homeschooled.
So, does that make them Amish?
Communities that Live an Amish-Like Lifestyle in Australia
The McCallums are not the only ones who have adopted an Amish lifestyle. The individuals you’ll see wearing Amish-like clothes and living a life without modern conveniences have actually chosen this lifestyle. They don’t have Amish ancestry.
They typically belong to a church-based community, but they’re not Amish. Most of them are Anabaptists. One such example is the Cooneyites (or Two By Twos).
The Cooneyites may not be like the Amish, but they stick to old-school ways. They keep things traditional—no TV, just radio, women in skirts with uncut hair. Some are more relaxed, having a TV.
The Bruderhof
The Bruderhof, near Glen Innes in New South Wales, is a closed community embracing self-sufficiency. Women follow clothing rules like long skirts and sleeves, natural hair, and head scarves.
Despite their closed setup, they’re friendly, mingling with locals, welcoming visitors, and hosting Christmas Carols.
The Brethren
The Brethren, a Protestant-rooted community in Australia, also live an Amish-like lifestyle. They buy new cars but remove the radio and GPS. Music and TV are off-limits. Purchased houses undergo TV antennae removal.
Girls dress modestly and often finish education at year 12 through distance education or homeschooling.
Big conventions gather singles above 18 who choose partners. After marriage, girls embrace roles as moms and housewives.
Strict religious beliefs lead to excommunication for rule violations, and severing ties with family and community if deemed wrong.
Long Story Short
Australia doesn’t have Amish communities because of cultural and distance issues. Anabaptist groups are there, but they focus more on religion than living like the Amish.
The Cooneyites, Bruderhof, and Brethren follow traditional ways, each with their own rules on clothing and technology.
One exception is the McCallum family. They chose a simple, Amish-inspired life in Tasmania without modern conveniences, even though they don’t have Amish roots.