England emigration to Victoria (1860s) - a general question

[Newfloridian]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but is there a resource to help me sort out a general query about the mechanism of Victorian emigration to Australia?

We have a couple who arrived in Melbourne in February 1870 (after a voyage of 86 days). As far as we can tell, they were unassisted passages.

The question is this: from a standing start, what would have been the time scales and the mechanism of the process from their first application in their place of residence in Leicester to the date of their actual boarding of the clipper: ie how did they apply; when would they have started the process to board that particular ship; and who would they have applied to?

Kind regards

Alan

[mum mum]

Hi,
You say that as far as you can tell they were unassisted immigrants. What list did you find them on?
Public Records Office of Victoria passenger lists are divided into Assisted and Unassisted.
mum mum

[Newfloridian]

Hi

They were found on the Index to Unassisted Passenger Lists to Victoria 1852-1923. They arrived on the "Sea Chief" in Melbourne on February 20th 1870. There were three in the party: husband and wife and brother. A report in the Argus shows that the clipper left London on November 19th 1869.

So, the answers I am looking for are these:
How, and how soon before November 19th 1869, would they have needed to make arrangements to travel?
As unassisted passages what other criteria (if any did they need to make?

The couple were married (by banns) six weeks before they sailed. A daughter was born to them in the first week of May 1870.

Cheers Alan

[Dundee]

Hi Alan,

If they were unassisted then they paid their own fare and could come and go as they pleased.  We were all British subjects and really all they had to do was choose a ship and pay the fare.  I don't think it was particularly hard to find a berth as I have seen many ads in the British newspapers for ships which were departing in just a few days.  As far as I know there were no age restrictions for unassisted immigrants.

Debra 

[Newfloridian]

Hi Debra

That's most helpful

Cheers Alan

[Sarco]

Debra is quite correct, as unassisted passengers you could pay your fare very close to the departure.

If you have access to the digitised Times of London you would probably be able to find an advert. for the sailing of the Sea Chief in the three weeks prior to departure. Some ads would also advertise the cost of passage and some of the victualing arrangements.

Darryl

[Newfloridian]

Hi Darryl

Yes, I found an advert in the Western Daily Press (Oct 23rd 1869) by the Black Ball Line about their sailings to Australia (which included the Sea Chief). Fares are not stated - but there were inducements offered to some destinations ("Thirty acres of land, value £80, ... free to all classes paying their passage to Queensland).

There was also another newspaper article (Bradford Observer, Nov 26th 1869) which reported the arrest of an embezzler at Gravesend on board the 'Sea Chief' trying to flee to Australia. He was travelling first class with a female companion and had paid £80 for the tickets. (National Archives 'Old money to new' converter suggests this would now be worth about £3,650)

Cheers Alan 

[Sarco]

Well done Alan.

I find it very gratifying when you can find a titbit of information about distant ancestors. Puts a bit of flesh on their bones rather than the standard BMD's

Regards, Darryl

[dustfarmer]

1875 “Australian Handbook”

I have an “Australian Handbook” from 1875, which among other things, describes everything you need to know to emigrate to Australia.  Includes  Length of Voyage,  cost of passage, engaging passage and tickets,  luggage, outfits for Australian emigrants, dietary scale, and general hints.
It then goes on to describe requirements and issues involved in migrating to the various states in Australia and New Zealand. This includes rates and wages, house rents, prices and provisions.

It describes economies and geology of each state, then lists each town in each state, and a description of it, and what facilities are available in each town.
Eg Preston …. A village in the electoral district of same name, and county of East Bourke, situated between the Merri and Darebin Creeks, 6 miles NE of Melbourne.  It is surrounded by a dairy farming and market gardening district.  The Norwich Union Insurance Company  is represented by an agency.

I guess there are copies in various libraries, etc, but it makes quite an interesting read, and insight into life in those times.