Length of service for assisted immigrant

[LeanneBeckley]

Hi everyone, 
My GG grandmother arrived in Melbourne in 1844 as an assisted immigrant who was sponsored by William Dawson, publican of The Albion Hotel, Williamstown in Vic.  She was to be a 'house servant' at his inn.  She met my gg grandfather who had arrived in Williamstown sometime within the few preceding years, after having served 7 years in Tassie.  They were married in Geelong 11 months after her arrival in Williamstown.
My question is - How long would her tenure for her sponsor have been?  11 months from landing in Williamstown to marrying in Geelong, doesn't seem to leave enough time to work off a passage from England.  I am thinking they may have scarpered off early, but I'm not sure, hence my query about the time usually needed to repay a sponsor.
Thanks for any interest,  leanne

[Jennaya]

Hi Leanne

I don't think they had to work off the passage. See the links below.

http://www.theshipslist.com/Forms/faq.shtml

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/resources/family-history/immigration

They were brought out here to build up the colony, so like now, they had to have skills that were in demand. For women this was often domestic skills. Women were also needed as wives, so getting married after 11 months fulfilled her requirements.

Regards
Jennaya

[LeanneBeckley]

Thanks so much for replying.  I know that women were in short supply and they were encouraged to marry and make a life here.  I just didn't know if she was supposed to serve a set time in service, but the links you gave me don't indicate that that was the case.  I know that some of the inns in Williamstown degenerated into brothels and I just wanted to make sure that she wasn't trying to escape something nasty.  Thanks again.  leanne.