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Diary written by Francis Gosling from 1835 to 1836 and a group of photographs found loose in diary but not contemporary with it

Object numberV00001689

NameDiary

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis diary was written by Francis Gosling onboard ALEXANDER during his voyage from London to Sydney in 1835. He was encouraged to go to the colony at the advice of his brother, John, who was already in Sydney. The diary documents everyday life onboard the ship, the activities undertaken, and the daily longitude and latitude readings. ALEXANDER reached Hobart on 22 July 1835 and Gosling recorded his impression as 'a nasty dirty looking Village, and the houses are all scraggled about'. Gosling ultimately reached Sydney on 30 August 1835 where he was reunited with his brother.HistoryTo emigrate or remain at home was the major decision of a lifetime faced by many families in England and Ireland during the 19th century. The reasons to emigrate were many including land clearance, famine, unemployment, the quest for political or religious freedom and the desire to get rich. However the cost of immigration was beyond the means of most families or individuals. Many wishing to come to Australia had to rely upon the various colonial governments who, through the sale of land, offered assisted passages in return for a work assignment upon arrival. Assisted passages were granted to 'Mechanics, Labourers, Navvies, Miners and Domestic Servants' and their families if they met the selection requirements. Steerage passengers over the age of 15 who paid their own way could also be granted land upon their arrival in Australia. Manuscript accounts, journals and diaries of sea voyages to Australia in the early 19th century are rare. Although several thousand are known to exist most of these date from the late 19th century and tend to be written after the events with the contents modified to placate family members back home, where many of these passenger accounts were sent.SignificanceThis diary is an important record of an immigrant's trip from Britain to Australia during the 19th century. It comes from the period before the discovery of gold and the subsequent influx of immigrants and it is therefore an important record of pre-gold rush immigration reasons.