MIGRATION ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA
ACCOMMODATION
OF THE IMMIGRANTS
On 6th January 1862
three Henzell brothers William, Thomas and John set sail as emigrants on the
"Montmorency" for Brisbane. They sailed from Plymouth arriving in
Moreton Bay 91 days later on 7th April 1863.
The
"Montmorency" was a wooden ship variously quoted as 751 tons or 668
tons. The Lloyd's register shows her as 812 tons. She was launched in Quebec in
1854, having been specially built for the Australian trade to the order of
James Baines & Co. of Liverpool. This was the Black Ball Line which bought
the bulk of the State's 1860's immigrants, the "Montmorency" making
four voyages to Queensland bringing nearly 1400 new settlers.
On the voyage the
passengers experienced favourable weather to the Bay of Biscay, and from thence
westerly‑winds for several days. She crossed the equator on the 26th day
out after which she had baffling weather and contrary winds, which materially
affected the vessel by driving her from the usual course. On leaving the S.E.
trade winds she again experienced baffling weather for ten days, and strong
gales at intervals from various quarters during the remainder of the passage.
She sighted Cape Otway on the 29th ult. and when off Sydney Heads encountered a
very heavy gale, and was driven back a considerable distance to the southward.
Sighted Cape Moreton Light on Monday morning, at 1 o'clock, and came to an
anchorage at sundown. The Commissioners chartered the “Montmorency”, although
there is a large proportion of immigrants on board both vessels, coming under
the cognisance of the government. (The "Montmorency" arrived in
company with the "Clifton" also bringing immigrants.)
There was one
death and three births on the passage. The immigrants were under the care of
Dr. Westropp surgeon superintendent. (William Lumley Henzell was described in
the passenger list as Acting Assistant Surgeon.) The healthy and comfortable appearance of the passengers on their
arrival spoke well for the care and attention bestowed upon them by the Captain
and officers during the voyage. On being bought ashore, the single female
immigrants were accommodated in the depot at South Brisbane and the males and
married couples in the depot at North Brisbane. This accommodation was of
course only extended to those who came out under the auspices of the
government.
The Courier also
reports on "ACCOMMODATION OF THE IMMIGRANTS" that: In our summary in
February and, in several papers previous to that date, we had occasion to refer
in no measured terms to the insufficiency and utter discomfort of the "accommodation"
provided by the government for the immigrants who arrived by the ships Saldanha
and Jessie Munn. The immigrants who came out under government auspices in the
Clifton and Montmorency were excellently provided for. The Depot in South
Brisbane had undergone a thorough preparation. The floors have been laid,
partitions erected, ventilation provided for, the yards fenced off and several
other things done which were wholly undone on the previous occasion. A visit to
the depots on the night of their arrival presented a scene of pleasing contrast
to that which greeted us on our last visit when there was nothing but
discontent and discomfort to be heard and observed.
Earlier on April
9th, The Courier reported on "THE IMMIGRANT VESSELS": Our shipping
column today conveys the intelligence of the arrival in the bay of the
immigrant vessels Clifton and Montmorency. As yet we have been able to glean
very few particulars, but we are happy to state that both vessels are reported
to be "all well". Meantime we may state, as an evidence the
government are desirous the new arrivals as comfortable as possible, his
Excellency the Governor and the Colonial Secretary went over to South Brisbane
yesterday, and inspected the accommodation prepared for their reception at the
depot in South Brisbane. We trust therefore that the emergency which occurred ‑
of two vessels arriving at one time ‑ will find the authorities much
better prepared than before, when they were undoubtedly blameable for much of the
confusion and inconvenience complained of.
To set the scene
regarding the condition at that time it is interesting to read the following
report in The Courier of the BRISBANE LABOUR MARKET: The labour market during the
week has been remarkably brisk following the arrival of the Montmorency and
Clifton, immigrant vessels from England with about 400 persons on board, the
majority of whom are evidently well adapted for the colony. Some few of the
number intend settling on their land, under the land order system. We have
received a great many orders from the country for tradesmen but we have no
alteration to report as regards the rate of wages.
Bricklayers, per day £0 10 0 to £0
11 0
Carpenters and joiners £0 8 0 to £0 12 0
Day labourers £0 6 0 to £0 8 0
Farm labourers, per year
with rations £40 0 0 to £52
0 0
Men cooks £40
0 0 to £60 0 0
Shepherds £35
0 0 to £52 0 0
General servants £20 0 0 to £30
0 0
Nurse girls £18 0 0 to £22
0 0
Smart lads £15
0 0 to £30 0 0
Bullock drivers
Some idea of the
cost of food can be gleaned from the following report of The Brisbane Retail
Markets.
FLOUR. - Fine 17s.; best seconds 15s.
per 100lbs.
BREAD. - 5d. per 2lbs. loaf.
BUTCHERS MEAT. -
Beef 3d. to 4 1/2d.; mutton 3d. to 4d.; pork 6d.; veal 6d. per lbs.; lamb 4s. to 5s. per quarter.
DAIRY PRODUCE. ‑
Butter, 2s. to 2s. 6d.; cheese 9d. to 1s.; bacon and ham 9d. to 1s.; eggs 1s.
9d. to 2s. per dozen.
VEGETABLES. ‑
Potatoes (old), 1d., (new) 2d.; onions 6d. per lbs.; cabbages 2d. to 6d. each;
pumpkins 1d. per lb.; carrots 6d. per bunch; beans 2s. per peck.
FRUITS. ‑
Oranges 2s. 6d., lemons 2s. 6d. to 3s., bananas 9d.to 1s., pineapples 3s. 6d.
to 18s. per dozen.
Queensland was
still, in 1862, a very young Colony having been granted separation from New
South Wales in 1859. The population on 31st December, 1861 was as follows:‑
Males 20811
Females 13556
Total 34367
The total population
on the 31st December, 1860 was 29074 showing an increase of 5293 for the year. The ratio
of 65 females to 100 males arises because of the employment of males in
pastoral pursuits. Many farms "were only now being reclaimed from the
wilderness".
The Courier on
April 12th states that "the arrival of two more vessels freighted with the
precise articles the colony stands most in need of, is an event pleasant to
record, and furnishes additional evidence ‑ although none was absolutely
necessary ‑ that our Emigrant Agent at home is doing his work faithfully
and well". The new arrivals were quickly absorbed into the work‑force
The Courier has almost daily comment about the new cotton growing industry, and
no doubt many of the new arrivals hopes to make a start for themselves in that
industry.
The only hint of
why the Henzell brothers came to Australia the can be found is in the report of
the death of John Harrop Henzell in 1924. The report states that "Mr.
Henzell arrived in Queensland in 1862 with the intention of entering the cotton
industry, but after a short term on the land at Oxley, he relinquished the idea
of farming".
Sadly the
following notice appeared in The Courier on 2nd February, 1863.
ACCIDENT. An
unfortunate young man William Lumley Henzell was drowned on Saturday whilst bathing in a water hole in the
vicinity of Mr. Lexton's residence, near Burnett swamp. The body was not
recovered until the following morning although an active search had been made.
An inquest will be held today by Dr. Cannan, the coroner of the district.
He was only 27
years of age and had been in Queensland less than a year. He was buried in the
historic Nundah Cemetery. The death certificate records that he was buried on
2nd February, 1863. The service was conducted by G Trundle, minister of the
Church of England. Witnesses at the service were G B Petrie, J R Moffatt and G
Robinson. The Trundle and Robinson families feature predominately in the future
of the Henzell family. The three brothers obviously knew the Trundle family as
an extract from the diary of Charles Joseph Trundle notes:‑
1862 Dec. 25th.
Spent a delightful Xmas at Fathers farm. My dear wife and three children were with
me.... We had a picnic on the Kedron Brook in which we were joined by the
Rode's the 3 Mr. Henzell's and other friends.
Life must have
been kind to Thomas and John as their younger brother Frederick Lumley Henzell
was persuaded to join his brothers. He arrived from Manchester by the ship
"Great Victoria" in 1866.
The Brisbane
Courier of Friday, January 5th 1866 reports on the arrival of "The Great
Victoria". There is no passenger list but Frederick Lumley was probably on
this voyage, unless he arrived later in the year as the voyage lasts about 80
days so it feasible that "The Great Victoria" could have returned
later in the year.
The following is
a report of Dr. H T Scott, surgeon-superintendent of The Great Victoria.
We left Plymouth
on the 12th October and after an uneventful voyage of 78 days, arrived in
Moreton Bay on the 31st December. The Great Victoria has a length of 330 feet
and thus affords most superb accommodation. The weather throughout the passage
was superlatively fine, and never even in the tropics, inconveniently hot. The
only drawback that could be mentioned was the extraordinary cold that was
experienced from the Equator to Tasmania - colder than has been felt in these
region before. .... I regret to have to report the deaths of two adults and
eighteen children. The examining medical officer remarked at the time of
departure, on the sickly appearance of many of the passengers and young
children, generally the latter, of whom many were suffering from slight maladies, such as chicken pox,
sore throat, ophthalmia, &c.
Soon after
leaving Plymouth measles broke out and at one time I had as many as 60 children
and adults suffering from the disease. Croup succeeded and then whooping cough.
If the passengers on these ships were even of average health and strength, I
believe that the occurrence of death would be an exceptional circumstance, but
the beneficial effects of the splendid climate of Queensland combined with the
long sea voyage, are so generally known and appreciated, that a very large
proportion of our passengers were those seeking health to their diseased
frames, and some delayed to do this until death had fairly seized them with a
grasp that would not be displaced. A very pleasing contrast to this however is
afforded by the extraordinary improvement in the health of those whose
constitutions were capable of being benefited. ...
The total number
of passengers who embarked on board the Great Victoria was 646 divided into the
following classes: Married males, 100, females, 103, single male adults, 259,
female adults, 34, children under 14 years, males, 70, females, 56, infants,
males, 10, females, 14.