In 1829, a group in Britain led by Edward Gibbon Wakefield were looking to start a colony based on free settlement rather than convict labour. After problems in other Australian colonies arising from existing settlement methods, the time was right to form a more methodical approach to establishing a colony. In 1829 an imprisoned Wakefield wrote a series of letters about systematic colonisation which were published in a daily newspaper. He suggested that instead of granting free land to settlers as had happened in other colonies, the land should be sold. The money from land purchases would be used solely to transport labourers to the colony free of charge, who were responsible and skilled workers rather than paupers and convicts. Land prices needed to be high enough so that workers who saved to buy land of their own remained in the workforce long enough to avoid a labour shortage.
People from England, Wales, Cornwall and Scotland emigrated for many reasons. Whilst some fled from religious persecution, most left for economical reasons, especially poverty at home and the inducement of a new life abroad. Public lectures were held to promote emigration within the working classes, encouraging labourers, mechanics and artisans to apply for Free Passage.
In 1836, 19 ships are recorded as departing for and/or arriving in South Australia. By the end of 1836, the colony's population was estimated at 839 persons. In 1837, 78 ships are recorded as departing for and/or arriving in South Australia, including some ships who made the journey multiple times. By the end of 1837, the colony's population was estimated at 3,273 persons. In 1838, 172 ships are recorded as departing for and/or arriving in South Australia, including some ships who made the journey multiple times. By the end of 1838, the colony's population was estimated at 6,000 persons.
This CD contains various sections:
- Where they came from: England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany as well as inter-colonial arrivals including Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Western Australia and New Zealand.
- A typical journey: Experience a typical journey on a passenger ship bound for the colony of South Australia. The journey of the ROYAL ADMIRAL will help you to understand how passengers lived onboard a ship and what they went through on the 3-4 month journey. Journey maps, ship's charters, ration lists and present a picture of how your family might have travelled.
- Find your family: This section contains alphabetical listings of families and individuals who came to South Australia by ship between 1836 and 1838. Also included in this section are the details from the Register of Free Passages. This Register covers the period from 1836 to 1841, and lists the names of over 9,000 applicants (and their families if applicable), occupations and their address at the time they applied to come to South Australia. For the period 1836-1838, the details of the 1,535 successful applicants (and their families if applicable) who applied for Free Passage are included on the passenger lists for the individual ships.
- Passenger ships travelling to South Australia: This section includes details of all of the passenger ships arriving in South Australia between 1836 and 1838. Where possible, photographs of the ships have been included as well as links to ship diaries, reports and other available documents.
- Ships from Germany bound for South Australia: details of a few ships from Germany which arrived in South Australia between 1836-1838 are listed here.
- Passenger portaits and headstones: this is an index of the hundreds of passenger portaits and headstones that are included on this CD.
- Ship diaries and journals: Read firsthand accounts of voyages to South Australia between 1836-1838. At least 15 diaries have been discovered about the journey to South Australia between this period, and these indicating how passengers occuplied their time during their journey, details of conditions on board, and describes fellow passengers and the route taken by the ship.
- Maps: a map showing the principal commercial route is included, as well as numerous maps of South Australian from the 1830 and 1840s.
- Early South Australian newspapers: View copies of newspapers of the Colony of South Australia from 1836-1838, and explore the early history of the South Australian newspapers.
- Key dates in the history of the colony of South Australia: A timeline of key dates that shaped the colony.
This CD contains a colossal amount of information relating to immigrants arriving in South Australia in 1836-1838. Newspaper lists and voyage reports, shipboard diaries, passenger lists and ship manifests, crew lists, photos of passengers and headstones, maps ... it's all here. So for those with either connections to early South Australian families, or an interest in the history of the colony, this CD is a must.
