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Image Not Available for Archie Marshall with his bulldozer at Victoria Quay
Archie Marshall with his bulldozer at Victoria Quay
Image Not Available for Archie Marshall with his bulldozer at Victoria Quay

Archie Marshall with his bulldozer at Victoria Quay

Publisher
Date1965
Object numberANMS1453[041]
NamePhotograph
Mediumphotographic print on paper
DimensionsOverall: 165 × 218 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection
DescriptionA black and white image of Archie Marshall in front of a large bulldozer he imported on the docks of Victoria Quay, Fremantle. Marshall had migrated to Australia from Britain aboard the FAIRSKY with his family and had and "brought his tools of trade with him. He’s a bulldozer driver." HistoryA newspaper clipping attached to the back of the photograph reads ‘Migrant Archie Marshall with his bulldozer at Victoria Quay today. – Picture by Tom Dann. Migrant with a big headache. Migrants coming to Australia are allowed to bring their tools of trade with them – entry free of charge. So £10-assisted migrant Archie Marshall, from Brighton, England, brought his tools of trade with him. He’s a bulldozer driver. He has a 30-ton monster – second biggest of its make – sitting on the wharf at Fremantle. But somebody did not read the immigration regulations properly – and Archie’s bulldozer is now a 30-ton problem. Nobody told him of the need for an of an import licence so his bulldozer has been gathering cobwebs on Victoria Quay since it arrived aboard the TOWNSVILLE STAR on July 29. Mr Marshall first thought it was a joke but his ready English smile has sagged a little since he has learnt that the delay on the wharf could cost him heavily in storage and other charges. It seems the Australian Customs authorities in London made a blunder that could be costly for the redheaded migrant who has come here with his wife, daughter and two sons to slice into WA’s big development. Costs: Twelve months ago Mr Marshall (34) notified Australia’s officials in London that he wanted to migrate here and bring his bulldozer with him. He asked the authorities to be specific about the costs he would expect to pay to bring the bulldozer here as he anticipated reaching Australia with little cash in hand and did not want any unexpected bills. But the Customs people made no mention of the need for an import licence. He found out about that long after he and his family arrived aboard another ship, the FAIRSKY, early in July. The bulldozer has already cost him £1000 to ship to Australia. “For heaven’s sake, don’t paint me as a disgruntled migrant” he laughed. “We’re absolutely thrilled with the place so far”.’ SignificanceThis image is one of a series of photographs taken by Fairfax photographers that provides a unique window into how immigrants were viewed and immigration policy articulated in the popular press in Australia. They represent something of the personal face to Australia's massive post-war immigration push and show immigrants from many European nations, USA and China.