So, now we are 25 million and growing at almost 400,000 people a year.
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It's not surprising the news Australia's population reached this mark years earlier than had been predicted has added further fuel to debates over our notional national "carrying capacity" and whether or not we should be slashing immigration.
The focus on immigration is pertinent given migrants account for 62 per cent of population growth. "Natural increase" accounts for the other 38 per cent.
As usual the the most vocal critics of our current migration policies are from the far right. Rewind to Pauline Hanson's 1996 maiden speech, with its reference to being "swamped by Asians".
The Hansonites, and their many fellow travellers on this issue in the major political parties, are wedded to the mantra migration is bad for "true blue Australians".
Their thesis is that the unwelcome arrivals from overseas are managing to live it up on our far from generous welfare system on the one hand while taking the jobs of deserving battlers on the others.
Leaving aside the glaring contradictions, it is hard to see how the facts can be twisted to support their case. Welfare dependency among skilled migrants is no greater than for the broader community and, as a group, these recent arrivals have high rates of employment and home ownership.
To suggest their jobs have been taken from others is also a big call. Unemployment rates in this country have been at record, or near record, lows for years now.
While the debate over Australia's "carrying capacity" is more nuanced, and well worthy of study and debate, we are still far from full by the standards of the USA and Europe.
Immigration, both historically and in recent times, has been the making of modern Australia and its place in the world.
In 1918, when there were only five million of us, Australia took its place on the global stage as a result of its sacrifices in the Great War.
By 1959, when there were only 10 million of us, we were seen as a desirable haven by tens of thousands of people dreaming of a better life from Europe and then Asia. They came, they contributed their all, and the result is a nation with the world's 13th largest economy despite only having the 53rd largest population.
Immigration has been an unquestionable success for Australia. But for it to continue to work requires appropriate investment in infrastructure, and at the moment we are falling behind badly, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney; our two major migration magnets that soak up the lion's share of new arrivals.
With both cities expected to have populations in excess of eight million within 30 years it's fair to say we have a problem.
Two things need to be done. The first, and the most obvious, is to embark on properly planned and funded nation building projects that would enable the mega-cities to handle their projected growth.
The second, and arguably most important, is to promote other capitals, such as Adelaide, Perth and Canberra, and our regional centres as desirable destinations of opportunity.
If potential new arrivals knew the lifestyle quality of the alternatives they might not be so focused on heading for south eastern Australia's hi-rise coastal centres.