Within this series, I will explore each of the journeys taken by my ancestors. All of them arrived in Queensland, so it made my research a little easier. There would have been a variety of reasons why they would have decided to head off to Australia. Then, all my ancestors ended up living in the same district. (More on this later).
Journeys.
Each of the ships my ancestors were onboard was different and so were the journeys. (More about this in the coming instalments).
The first journey was in 1877 by a maternal great-great-grandmother.
There were two different voyages in 1883 – 1. A maternal great-grandfather and 2. Another maternal great-grandfather.
Also, in 1888, two different voyages: paternal great-great-grandparents, a month apart.
In 1889, a maternal great-grandmother arrived.
And last, but not least, my paternal great-grandparents arrived in 1912.
There were things that were similar as in: births, deaths, sickness, weather conditions – from becalmed to mountainous seas… as well as large temperature changes.
Questions – No Answers.
What was the journey like? What types of foods were supplied? How did the passengers deal with the changing weather? What clothing did they have or wear? What were the conditions like on board? How did they organise themselves i.e. find the details of ships travelling to their destination? How did they get from their home to the port? How were they greeted when they arrived at their destination? Where did they first go?
Hopefully, I shall be able to shed some light on some of these questions…
Research.
To locate information during my research, I used our best friend, “Google”. I turned to newspapers, in particular TROVE and the British Newspaper Archives websites.
Golden Find.
I was extremely lucky to find a diary written by a fellow passenger on board one of the ships that my ancestor sailed on. I now own a copy thanks to the Lithgow District Historical Society.
Newspapers.
Some of the newspaper articles found, provide some interesting details – most newspapers reported on the whereabouts of all shipping. I used this information to re-create the possible path of each vessel from its departure until its arrival in Queensland ports.
Passenger Lists.
I was able to locate all the passenger lists through various sources which included the Queensland State Archives. I do feel that this part of my research journey was easier. I have been able to locate a picture of the majority of ships that sailed. On occasion, I will use the words “ship” and “vessel” – basically, I am referring to the same thing. The Queensland State Library has a lot of information but more on this facility another time.
Advertisement.
I found some interesting advertisements in the British Press – Is it true, what was said in the ads, I will let you be the judge.
The above appeared in “Stirling Observer” on Thursday 01 March 1883 on page 8.
The transcript of the above advertisement follows:
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. This young and promising Colony is now offering Special Advantages to all Classes. FARMERS and OTHERS may obtain LAND, under the Homestead Classes of the present Land Act, in 80 and 100 Acre Blocks, for 2s 6d per Acre, payable as rent, extending over five years; and up to 5120 Acres may be bought for 10s per Acre, payable in ten annual instalments, without interest. Any person over 18 years of age may acquire this Land, for which Certificates of title are issued, on completing the above payments and certain conditions of improvement. The Queensland Government are also offering FREE PASSAGES to Single Women, Domestic Servants (who are in great demand, and receive high rates of Wages), to Agricultural Labourers (Married Couples with small families, and Single Men); and ASSISTED PASSAGES are granted to Mechanics and their Families. Queensland is a large Colony on the East Coast of Australia, has a healthy and enjoyable Climate, progressing very rapidly, an(d) offers a rich reward to the enterprising and a Freehold Home for the industrious. For all further particulars as to Land Laws and Resources, Free and Assisted Passages and any further information, apply to the Agent-General for Queensland, 1 Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, London, S.W.; or to the Local Agent:-
JOHN ALLAN, ARCHITECT, 12 MURRAY PLACE, STIRLING.
To view the Newspaper, follow this link:
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002659/18830301/104/0008
Please note: you may need a subscription to access the link.
Comments.
Feel free to add your own comments about your discoveries, as I am sure others would be interested.
Coming Weeks.
Over the coming weeks, you shall get an idea of the experiences of my ancestors and maybe even your own, onboard ship. Visiting various ports on their journey from Europe to Queensland.
If you are an Australian whose ancestors left the comfort of what they knew, to arrive in a foreign country that was extremely different, you may find my process helpful. Our ancestor stories are only just the beginning…
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