Media: BOOK - paperback, 168 pages
Author: M. Steiner
Year: 2009
ISBN: 9781862548053
Other: b&w photos, appendixes, bibliog
Publisher: Wakefield Press

In 1855 the colony of South Australia experienced 'excessive female immigration', with large numbers of single females arriving from the British Isles to work as servants. When an economic downturn led to a shortage of domestic help positions, the Colonial Government established servants depots around the colony to house them.

'Servants Depots' is a fascinating account of a little-known period in South Australian history. The book details the day-to-day running of these depots, and reveals much about the attitudes towards women in colonial South Australia.

Contents:
Acknowledgements
Preface
1. The Background: Female Immigration in 1855-1856
2. The Adelaide Female Immigration Depot
3. Assault at the Adelaide Depot
4. The Female Immigration Board
5. Willunga: A Chairman Repulsed
6. Clare: A Successful Enterprise
7. Robe: Insubordination
8. Gawler: No Mattresses
9. Encounter Bay: Unsuitable for Service
10. Mount Barker: Tragedy
11. Kapunda: The Last Chance
12. The Adelaide Depot
13. From City to Country
14. Readmission: A Contentious Issue
15. Conclusion
Notes
Appendix 1: Servant Girl Passengers on the 'Nashwauk'
Appendix 2: Statistics
Appendix 3: Colonial Secretary's Letter
Bibliography