The history of vegetarianism in Australia is only two centuries old and it's full of characters

Summary

While Australia's vegetarian movement dates back almost as far as the arrival of Europeans, the global roots of vegetarianism go back many thousands of years. Australia's First Nations people had traditionally consumed a plant-based diet of approximately 30 to 90 per cent of their total food intake, depending on where they lived. As a cultural or religious choice, vegetarianism was first introduced to Australia by the Swedenborgians who arrived here in the 1830s. Other religious groups who practised vegetarianism soon followed. At this time, meat was a central part of every European Australian's meal, thanks to an abundance of sheep. However, by the 1930s, it was no longer just the religious pushing vegetarianism. The free-body culture movement, or Freikörperkultur, was making its way into Australia, and Australian swimmer and Hollywood film star Annette Kellerman enthusiastically advocated vegetarianism. When the counterculture movement hit Australia in the 1960s and 70s, there was a large swing towards vegetarian food. And unlike many other 70s trends, vegetarianism has stuck around.

References

Nov 2020 MedicalNewsToday Medical myths: Vegetarian and vegan diets

May 2021 The Guardian Who moved my cheese? The silent battle between vegetarians and vegans

May 2021 Good Housekeeping The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Going Vegetarian