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A vast number
of people emigrated to Australia in the 1850's. Not all of these people were fortunate
enough to have the money to pay there own way. The cost of the passage in these times was
anywhere between 20 pounds and 70 pounds per person depending on the size of the cabin and
facilities available.
A person lucky enough could be sponsered by a colonist who had the need for the skills
that that person could supply. These were called bounty or assisted immigrants. Whole
families were bought to Australia by this system. Probably the most renowned sponser in
New South Wales history was the McCarther family, who sponsered a great number of
agricultural families from many different counties, including Kent, Dorset and Sussex to
help work their ever increasing pastoral interests.
For people who could not find sponsership or could not afford to pay there own passage,
they could apply for emigration status under the Government Emigration Scheme. The
Emigration Fund was financed by the colonists themselves, being part of the money paid to
the government for lands purchased by them.
Prospective emigrants needed to be in good health, free from all bodily or mental defects
and adults must, in all respects, have been capable of labour. A slight cost was incurred
by the emigrant, but compared to the minimum of 20 pounds per person to pay their own way,
the cost was very reasonable indeed.
CLASSES
AGE
Under 45
and 50 and
45
under under
50
60
(Pounds)
1. Married agricultural labourers,
shepherds, herdsmen and their wives;
also women of the working classs,
head .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
1
5
11
2. Married journeymen mechanics and artisans,
such as blacksmiths, bricklayers,
carpenters, masons, sawyers, wheelwrights,
and gardeners, etc, and their wives
per head .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
2
6
14
3. Single men -
If accompanying their parents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2
If not accompanying their parents
(when they can be taken) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
3
4. Children under fourteen, per head .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
10s
The entire
voyage would have therefore cost the Manwaring family approximately 24 pounds.
The government supplied such things as provisions, medical attendance, cooking and eating
utensils, mattresses, drinking mugs, etc, while all the Government Emmigrant had to supply
their own clothing, towels and soap sufficient enough for the long voyage.
The Manwaring's were one such family who availed themselves of this scheme and on
receiving their embarkation order, travelled to Southampton from Cranbrook to board the
ship "Anna Maria" and the start of a new life.
The "Anna Maria" was a masted ship (Barque), built of Teak and weighing 487
tons. It was built in Calcutta in 1836 and owned by Smith and Company of London. The
"Anna Maria" was used at times as a convict ship and in 1848 when she was
12 years old she took convicts from Woolwich to Hobart in 90 days which was a record at
the time (190 male convicts - 163 to Port Phillip and 27 to Hobart). She sailed again to
Hobart in 1852 with 200 female convicts, 4 died on the voyage.
The Anna Maria, under the care of Master M. Howlett, left Southampton on the 9th March
1857. On board were 220 Government Immigrants, ahead of them was a three month journey
(108 days). Also on board was 40 tons of slate, on order from the colony.
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