G'day again, ALL ...
First things, first ... an Ancestry DNA update ...
The closest match I'd spotted and contacted did reply to my email today
and we've already compared notes between Perth & Geelong via phone.
Long story short ... he only paid for one year's Ancestry subscription
about 4 years ago and still checks in for DNA hits every now and then.
Before sending off today's message with the second part of the
'Melbourne in 1854' yarns, it would be remiss of me not to draw
attention to a couple of stand outs from yesterday's posting:
1) the landing point at Liardet's-beach (Sandridge) is Port Melbourne
these days and I've attached an image of the hotel on the beach from the
Victorian state library collection
2) the mention of bathing machines ... a shed on wheels that was pushed
into the ocean from the beach so bather's privacy could be maintained
... a way of life brought about in England in the 1840s ... I've read of
it happening on bayside beaches near Moorabbin in the 1840s as well ...
maybe Malcom Sears' convict ancestors witnessed or used them if they
ever had time to go to the beach? A sample image is attached.
3) the discussion of sleeping arrangements ... up to 15 beds or
stretchers to a room ... reminding the reader that after the ship board
experience on the way to Australia, people didn't think twice about
sharing a room with a stranger, drunk or not
4) sleeping on the ground while traveling to the diggings ... a piece of
cake after rough seas on an ocean voyage
Now for the final installment ... cheers and enjoy, ROB!
rnelson@xxxxxxxxxxxx
-----< Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper (London, England), Sunday, June 4, 1854,
Page 9 >----->
LABOUR MARKET AT MELBOURNE.
We have news from Melbourne to the 26th of March. The demand for skilled
labour is still in excess of the supply, and masons, carpenters,
bricklayers, and plasterers readily obtain employment at the rates
quoted below. Agricultural and road labourers are also sought after, and
respectable female servants are much wanted. Rates of wages are as follows:-
With rations: general farm servants, 70l. to 80l. per annum; bullock
drivers for the road, 3l. to 3l. 10s. per week; bullock drivers on
farms, 2l. 10s. to 3l. per week; cooks (male), 2l. to 5l. per week;
waiters, 1l. 10s. to 2l. per week; shepherds, 40l. to 50l. per annum;
hut-keepers, 35l. per annum; gardeners, 70l. to 100l. per annum; hay
cutters, 10s. per ton; wood splitters and fencers, 15s. per day; female
thorough servants, 30l. to 40l. per annum; laundresses, ditto;
housemaids, 25l. to 30l. per annum; nursemaids, 20l. to 25l. per annum;
cooks, 40l. to 50l. per annum; married couples, 90l. to 120l. per annum.
Without rations:- Compositors, 2s. 6d. per thousand; ditto, 7l. 7s. per
week; carpenters, 20s. to 25s. per day; masons, 30s. to 35s. per day;
blacksmiths and horse-shoers, 20s. to 25s. per day; labourers on the
roads, with tent, wood, water and tools, 12s. to 15s. per day; reapers,
25s. per acre.
In cases where rations are supplied, they consist of 10lbs. flour,
16lbs. meat, 2lbs. sugar, 1/4lb. tea, weekly, each person.
RATES OF CARRIAGE TO THE DIGGINGS.
The recent boisterous weather has had the effect of raising the rates of
cartage to the various diggings, which may be quoted as below, for the
present; fair weather will probably lower these prices once again before
they permanently rise for the winter quarter. Bendigo, 35s. per cwt. for
merchandise; 45s, ditto for luggage. Forest Creek, 30s. ditto ditto;
40s. ditto. Tarrengower, 35s. ditto ditto; 45s. ditto ditto. Ballarat,
30s. ditto ditto, 40s. ditto ditto. Ovens (no quatation). For large
quantities, lower rates are asked, and by bullock-teams about one-third
less is demanded, where quick delivery is not an object.
LATEST FROM THE GOLD-DIGGINGS.
The accounts from the colony of Victoria by the overland mail are
exceedingly satisfactory as regards the gold production and the general
progress of the population, although the import markets present no
favourable change, the average rate of arrivals for the last two months
having been 17,000 tons of shipping weekly. The chief of the new
discoveries of gold had taken place at a locality called Tarrangower,
within a few miles of Fryer's Creek. Owing to scarcity of water the
actual quantities thus far obtained had been small; but the evident
richness of the soil had induced the men to heap up enormous quantities
for future washing. Discoveries had also been made at three other
localities - namely, the Buckland River, Bryant's Ranges, and Crowlands.
The accounts received by escort during the present year had shown a
steady increase, the totals having been for January 123,416 ounces, for
February 138,467 ounces, and for March (from the 1st to the 25th)
152,748 ounces. Notwithstanding the augmented production, however, the
demand for gold for shipment in return for the excessive importations
from Europe had caused the price to advance from 75s. 6d. since January,
to 78s. 3d., which was the latest quotation. The aggregate shipments of
gold from the commencement of the present year to the 25th of March had
been 535,545 ounces. This is 122,914 ounces above the quantity brought
in by escort, but is probably not in excess of the sum actually
obtained, estimating the proportion brought by private hands as well as
the amounts carried to Adelaide and Sydney overland. Supposing the same
rate of shipment to be continued, its value in the year, at 4l. per
ounce, would be 9,000,000l. Among the vessels lately cleared were the
Samuel Boddington, with 24,266 ounces; the Marquis, with 766 ounces; the
Stebonheath, with 12,108 ounces; the Windermere (from Geelong), with
25,000 ounces; the Neleus, with 52,913 ounces; and the Ferozepore, with
20,212 ounces; making a total of 151,798 ounces, worth 607,200l.
The reckless extent of land speculation had partially subsided, but the
demand was still active, and the average price mentioned for suburban
allotments are about 33l. per acre within six miles of the city, and
18l. 12s. within eight miles. An electric telegraph from the bay to the
custom-house, a distance of about eight miles, had commenced working on
the 7th of March, and the extension of the line to Geelong is said to
have been determined upon. The erection of an exchange was about to be
commenced forthwith, but the plan for a ship canal and docks had been
rejected by the legislative council in consequence of official names
having been improperly made use of in the prospectus. Notwithstanding
the heavy losses in the import markets there have been no serious
failures, although a large number of small dealers had become insolvent.
The chief sufferers from the fall in goods will doubtless be English
firms who have shipped on their own account.
<-----
Attachment:
Liardet's beach hotel (Sandridge).jpg
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Attachment:
Sandridge from Hobsons Bay.jpg
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Attachment:
bathing machine.jpg
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