Passage to Australia:
The introduction of assisted passages to Australia in 1831 meant that the rural labourers of Dorset were able to consider emigration. By 1834 parish aided emigration was put on the statute books through the new Poor Law and encouraged by the Overseers of the Parish, otherwise the cost of the voyage would have been prohibitive. Agricultural labourers were receiving low wages, if they were lucky enough to be paid in money at all, some received meat or barley instead, which was called the truck method of payment. Their prospects were not good, so it is not surprising that many took the opportunity to improve their lot for themselves and their families by taking the brave step to leave their familiar surroundings and travel to another continent.
We have found examples of chain migration from villages and within families. The Macarthurs of Camden Park, in Australia recruited many men and their families from the Cranbourne Chase area of Dorset. The first ship Brothers sailed in 1837 with families and one single man from Sixpenny Handley, Childe Okeford, Farnham, Winterbourne Strickland and Donhead St. Mary. In 1838 the John McLellan sailed with seven families from the same area and in 1839 the Royal George took out people to work on the land from Dorset, Wiltshire, Kent and Sussex. They were bound to the Macarthurs for three years and later had the opportunity to become tenant farmers, something that would have been almost impossible in England. In 1849 another large group went out from the Blandford and Maiden Newton areas on the Emigrant and other members of their families would later emigrate to join them. Can you tell us who they were?
In 1851 the Lock Family of Winfrith Newburgh in Dorset sailed on the ill-fated Marion which went aground on the Troubridge Shoals on her way to Adelaide. Fortunately, no lives were lost and they settled in Gawler with many members of the family joining them there. It is believed that as many as eighty people with links to Winfrith Newburgh followed them to Gawler.
These are some of the people who left Dorset and took part in the early history of Australia - we would like you to help us find more
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