Give or take a mile or two and according to Google, the straight line distance between Australia and New Jersey is 10,512 miles. Nevertheless, that huge distance hasn’t prevented many Aussies from relocating to The Garden State, drawn by an opportunity to experience the liberty and prosperity for which our American location is famed.

There’s much in common between Australia and New Jersey, as we explore some of the cultural similarities and look at examples of the shared lifestyle traits.

Establishing an Australian Café Culture

Jersey City and New York are two of the most cosmopolitan metropolises in America, nestling either side of the Hudson River, thanks to the high density of residents who were born overseas. Many have proudly set up thriving business enterprises, keen to share their heritage and traditions with the local communities.

One great example is Maggie’s Farm Espresso, established by a Perth native who previously worked in the corporate world, bringing the Australian coffee and café culture to Downtown Jersey City. The name of this cozy little culinary venue has two inspirations, the first of which is the name of owner Sam de Burgh’s mother.

The second is an apt reference to the Bob Dylan song, Maggie’s Farm, which speaks of quitting an old vocation. Certainly apt, considering that de Burgh quit his career in the financial world, ahead of chasing the dream to start his own Australian culinary enterprise. This café and eatery is filled with Aussie flavor, and most of the dishes are sourced from fellow expats located in New Jersey.

The Shared Passion for Wagering

While it might seem like quite the generalization, Australians are famed for their love of betting and wagering, largely thanks to a firmly established gambling culture. The country itself has always taken a more liberal and open view of gambling, which is perhaps why gambling activities are considered to be much more than just a national pastime.

This actually dates back to the early colonial period, mostly surrounding the first official horse racing events that were established in the early 1800s, almost a century before Australia gained nation status in 1901. This fandom of equestrian racing has transferred to New Jersey, given that whenever visiting racing venues like Meadowlands or Monmouth Park, we often hear Aussie accents among the jockeys and trainers.

In the modern digital age, the wagering phenomenon has continued with the popularity of online pokies in Australia, typically referred to as video slots in the United States, such as those lining the casinos in Atlantic City. Indeed, there are hundreds of sites for Aussies to choose from, therefore getting trusted reviews is always highly recommended, along with choosing the best offers and promotions when gambling for real money.

Switching Between Aussie Rules and NFL

Widely acknowledged to be hugely competitive when it comes to sporting pursuits, Australia boasts its own variety of major sporting leagues. This includes the Australian Football League (AFL), which is by far the most popular competition across the country, both in terms of spectatorship and overall participation.

Aussie Rules football and both codes of rugby shares the same roots as American football. This has encouraged many Australian sportsmen to try their luck in the NFL, particularly during the last couple of decades. While the Jets and the Giants are considered to be New York franchises, their shared home venue is the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Both teams have featured Australian players over the years. One great example is Ben Graham, who represented the New York Jets from 2005 to 2008, before stints with New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, and the Detroit Lions. He was the only player to captain AFL and NFL teams, the only sportsman to appear in the AFL Grand Final (1995) and the Super Bowl (XLIII), plus the first Australian to appear in a Super Bowl contest.