Images(2)

Thomas Arthur Westwood

Photographer Robinson Bros (Australian, 1916 - 1927)

Datec 1922

Object number00018970

NamePhotograph

MediumBlack and white photographic print on paper

DimensionsImage: 139 x 88 mm
Mount: 253 x 164 mm
Overall: 253 x 164 mm, 2 mm, 0.05 kg

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Patricia Heckrath

Terms

HistoryThese photographs and documents record bothThomas and Reginald Westwood's affiliation with the New Australia Co-operative Settlement Association which in 1893 embarked on the ambitious venture to resettle over 500 Australians to Paraguay, South America. Both Thomas and Reginald, then aged 9 and blind since birth, were amongst the first 220 Australians to set sail from Sydney in July 1893 on the Barque ROYAL TAR, bound for Montevideo, then overland to Paraguay, (both later returned to Australia in December1893). Lead by the Socialistj ournalist and activist William Lane, the group intended to establish a new co-operative "Utopian" agricultural settlement in Las Ovejas in central Paraguay. Over 500 predominantly Queensland and New South Welsh bush-workers and their families, along with white collar workers from Adelaide, Albany and Tasmania, eventually made the journey to Paraguay. On arriving in Paraguay the settlement experienced more than its fare share of difficulties with the original settlement quickly polarizing into two factions, the Rebels and Royalists. By late 1894 conflict between these factions had grown so great that most of the original settlers had returned broke and disillusioned to Australia. As Gavin Souter points out in his book 'A Peculiar People',Thomas Westwood was a key figure in the eventual abandonment of the settlement. As a Rebel it was he, along with his companions; Fred White and Arthur Brittlebank, that were amongst Lane's most ardent and effective critics.The source of their discontentment was threefold:(i) their mistrust of Lane's financial management of the Co-ops funds,(ii) their sense of aggrievement at the conditions and rules governing conduct and business in the new settlement and (iii) Lane's habitual reserve. The membership documents and receipt also act as tangible evidence of the Co-operatives rather interesting revenue raising process. On joining the Co-operative a member had to agree to subscribe all the capital they possessed and this had to be no less than sixty pounds. In the meantime a preliminary payment of ten pounds, for which we have Thomas Westwood's original receipt, was taken as a deposit, until the outstanding monies were settled prior to departure.