Chambers family migrates from United States to Australia
Date1963
Object numberANMS1453[155]
NamePhotograph
Mediumphotographic print on paper
DimensionsOverall: 206 × 304 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection
DescriptionA black and white photograph of Audrey Chambers and her children Billy, Corlyanne, James and Harriet arriving in Sydney aboard the ORANJE from Florida, USA. Audrey was a widow who had promised her husband she would migrate to Australia and planned to settle in Warwick, Queensland.
HistoryWith the catchphrase 'populate or perish' ringing through the community, Australia stepped up its immigration in the years after WWII, offering assisted passage to British migrants, encouraging migration from European countries, and finally in the 1970s repealing the restrictive white Australia policy framed after federation in 1901. More than seven million new settlers have now crossed Australia's shores since 1945 and it's estimated that one in four of Australia's population was born overseas.
The Chambers family was one of these. An attached newspaper article to the image reads:
‘An American woman and her four children arrived in Sydney today to live “Cost free: in Australia – at the expense of the U.S. Government. All her living and accommodation expenses will be met through her social security payments. She receives 254 dollars a month (about £113).
Mrs Audrey Chambers, 47, of Silversprings, Florida, arrived on the liner ORANJE to settle here permanently. Her four children are Billy, 10, Corlyanne, 10, James,9 and Harriet, 8. Mrs Chambers, who will live in Warwick, Queensland, will receive the social security payments for the rest of her life. (Social security is a contributory system made by a person from his pay each month). (The amount paid monthly by the U.S. Government depends on how much is paid in the person’s salary).
Promise to husband.
Mrs Chambers said today that she and her husband decided to come to Australia five years ago. “However, after marking our plans, he died of a brain cancer” she said. “I promised him as he was dying that I would bring the children here”.
“After his death I made inquiries and worked out the cost of the food, rent and even the price of linen” she said. “I decided to settle in Warwick as it is similar to Silversprings. When I wrote to the council there they were very happy that I had decided to come and live there. They arranged housing for me and I hope to reach there within a couple of days.”
She said she would receive 254 dollars a month from the social security no matter if she remained an American citizen or was naturalised in Australia. “The social security pension will work out at about £28 a week and this should keep us in reasonable comfort. I own a small ranch and a house near Silversprings and I also received a 10,000 dollar G.I. pension following the death of my husband.” It’s like insurance.
“Despite these assests the American government pays the social security because my husband paid in several dollars from his pay each month. The social security system is something like an insurance policy and payment is made no matter where I am.” She said she would educate her children at a catholic school in Warwick.’SignificanceThis image is one of a series produced by Fairfax newspapers that provides a unique window into how immigrants were viewed and immigration policy articulated in the popular press. The images in this selection are significant in representing something of the personal face to Australia's massive post-war immigration push that saw aggressive immigration programs orchestrated by the Australian Government that was promoting a 'populate or perish' philosophy.
