Why was naturalisation needed in early 1914?

[Dinkydidy]

The index to Victorian naturalisation certificates records 52 year old Mrs. Ellen Gonne of Ballarat East, whose native place was Australia, being granted a certificate on 5 March 1914.

What would have been the likely purpose for this?

She was the widow of Chinese-born man.

Didy

[sparrett]

Hi
What was her maiden name?
Sue

[sparrett]

Is this the marriage?
 
HOGAN Ellen (Born LEARMOUTH)
GOU  Leoo Ann
Year 1878
Reg  2644

Sue

[Skoosh]

Learmonth?

Skoosh

[sparrett]

Learmonth?

Skoosh

Yes, that is the correct spelling.
It is incorrect on the index from which I have typed the information. Errors of the sort are common.
North of Ballarat.
Sue

[aghadowey]

I think Australia pre-WWI was like the rest of the U.K., and other countries, in that upon marriage a woman became a citizen of her husband's country. Thus, if this woman's husband was Chinese then she would have been a Chinese citizen until applying for citizenship.

[Dinkydidy]

Thank you. I wondered if it might be something of that sort. Does that mean that she would have been unable to be naturalised while her husband was still alive?

Didy

[wivenhoe]

I think this is how it worked -

On marrying an alien, Ellen would lose her British nationality (assuming that she was ever British).

If her alien husband became a British subject, this would extend to Ellen as his wife.

If Ellen was the widow of an alien, Ellen would apply for naturalization.

[Aussie1947]

Hi,
Just for interest.

My GGM was 69 and a widow when she was naturalised in 1901, her husband had been naturalised in South Australia in 1850, the both came from Germany in 1848.

I also have two other German forebears who were both naturalised the same day in 1909, they had migrated to South Australia in the 1850s.

Gerry