Images(2)

Immigration poster for Tasmania

Maker Tasmanian Government Emigration Department

Date1880s

Object number00029079

NamePoster

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 365 x 235 mm, 0.05 kg

ClassificationsPosters and postcards

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA poster advertising free land grants and assisted passages to Tasmania. Produced by the Tasmanian Government Emigration Department during the 1880's, this program was part of a series of immigration schemes that had been tried in Tasmania to attract immigrants since the early 1800's.HistoryTo emigrate or remain at home was the major decision of a lifetime faced by many families in England in Ireland during the 19th century.The reasons to emigrate were numerous including land clearance (Scotland and Ireland), famine (Ireland), unemployment (England), the desire to get rich or the quest for political and religious freedom (Cornwall,the midlands, Scotland and Ireland). Australia also wanted immigrants to populate the landscape, to support a sustainable economy and to supply labour-even more important after the cessation of convict transportation in 1868. However the cost of immigration was beyond the means of most families and individuals in England and Ireland, and for many wishing to come to Australia they had to rely upon the various state governments in Australia who through the sale of land offered assisted passages to Australia in return for assignment upon arrival. Besides these Assisted Emigrants the various Australian Colonial Government also required people of who were financially independent, who would not be a drain on the state coffers, who could pay their own way and bring vital capital into the Australian economy.These emigrants who could afford to pay their own passage were called 'Free Emigrants'. Following the gold rushes on the Australian mainland which saw many Tasmanian settlers move up to the colonies of Victoria and New South Wales, theTasmanian Government desperately required both Assisted and Freesettlers and advertised throughout England and Ireland for both, encouraging the wealthier potential emigrants to apply by granting them access to free land.SignificanceAlthough many of these type of posters were produced by both the Australia Colonial Governments and the British Home Government, very few of them survive today. They are very evocative, stating in a few simple words the main reason behind the desire of many migrants to come to Australia - FREELAND.These posters have become a symbol for immigration to Australia.