The Emigrant’s Friend or Authentic Guide to South Australia

The following guide was established to assist emigrants in their decision on whether to go to new colonies or stay and whither; such were the economic times in England.

Emigration from this tax burdened country is the order of the day, and it well becomes every man, struggling with difficulties here, especially if he have a large family, to think seriously if he cannot find some other country where his trade is brisker, or his labour better paid – where his family is a blessing and not a burden – where he may look forward to have, in a very few years, a little freehold of his own, and in return for the inconveniences and trials ( and trials they really are) of a first settlement, have the heartfelt pleasure of seeing himself certain of a comfortable home, improving year by year, and his family well provided for while young, and growing up not to toil through life without profit, as they would here, but becoming farmers and landed proprietors, able  to employ others in their turn.

 

Emigration Poster

These are the just hopes of the emigrant – these are all he wishes for- and these, with judgement and industry, he is sure the gain. If he has held a moderate station here, as that of clerk, warehouseman, shopkeeper, etc. he will for a time perhaps lose much comfort, but he will be gaining independence.

If he be a carpenter, a worker in metal, a wheelwright, a cabinetmaker, a tailor, a shoemaker, a mechanic, or handy-craftsman of any description, a fine opportunity is offered in several of our colonies for his profitable employment, and the exercise of his useful trade; the more so  is this the case with those accustomed to farming and gardening pursuits.

The poor agricultural labourer, at eight or ten shillings a week, has no  comfort here, and no expectations for his old age except the poor house; he dare not kill a hare for his starving family, through fear of a gaol – he sees his family ragged and ill-lodged.

If he gets on in the world and has a comfortable house, then come high rent, and heavy rates, then he must bear his proportion to keep standing armies – expensive Governments – roads that none but the rich man travels over – to pay taxes on his beer, his tea, and his sugar, his coffee and his tobacco, his soap and his paper, indeed on nearly everything, even on his windows, though they admit only the light of heaven.

These things keep the householder no richer than the labourer, and fill our gaols and our poor-houses – and will not every man who can accomplish a, leave an over-burdened country for one that is free – for a colony of hope and prosperity – for a place where the labourer, the producer of wealth, may occupy his proper position in society, and may receive the reward of his toil –that reward is comfortable food, clothing, and dwelling, competence in his old age, and to have the satisfaction of seeing his family in prosperity around him.

 Let us add here that females are in great request at all our colonies – needlework is well paid – domestic servants receive high wages, and are made rather companions than slaves.  No one need fear to trust herself in any of the better colonies, she may do so with even more certainty than a man – certain of employment – certain of getting money – and last, though not least perhaps, certain of getting married, and with great choice of good husbands too.

A proper choice of a colony is of the greatest consequence, an emigrant may succeed in several of them, but each colony has its peculiarities of climate, soil and productions – its special markets. It’s want of peculiar classes of emigrants.

The grazier is most valuable in one place, the carpenter in another, the weaver here, the mason there. To assist all persons in the choice of a colony, by showing without  favour or prejudice, the wants and capabilities – the advantages and disadvantages of all of them, is the real object of this little work.

We shall be very careful that all the information we render shall be authentic, and therefore such as may be strictly replied upon, having at heart, a real desire to promote a proper and prudent emigration, and equally to discourage wild schemes, which cannot but end in disappointment and distress.

We shall begin this plain unvarnished account with the colonies most in favour at the present time, previous to which it may be just noted that we have colonies in all quarters of the globe except in Europe. There is Canada in North America, St. Paul in Brazil in South America, many places in the Southern Seas of Asia, as New Zealand, Van Diemen’s Land, South Australia, Sydney etc.- Cape of Good Hope, Graham’s Town and Natal in Africa – thus the would-be emigrant may examine all of them, and choose for the best, according to his likings, and his purse, his capacity and previous occupation: let him do this wisely, and success and comfort are sure to crown his efforts, and in a few years he will rejoice at the resolution with which he left  his old country, and laugh at the inconveniences of the first arrival at his new one.

In this account let us not be supposed to favour any one of them, we have no interest in any – we write merely the truth of all. This little work will show that they are essentially different in climate. In markets, in production, soil, employments, crops, state of society, progress and prospects.

In an old colony like Canada, the success of the emigrant, and the degree of that success, can be pretty well ascertained here; in a new colony there is greater risk, and generally more unbounded hopes. Swan River, a few years since, was to be a land of gold, now it is a warning to the sanguine colonist – a reproach to the first promoters of the colony.

South Australia was long unsuccessful, now it bids fair ultimately to rival America. All colonies at first are unfortunate – no crops can be raised for a length of time – no population is there to buy them – no money for mechanics – no establishments even for safety – no society. Some of our colonies have failed from the difficulty of overcoming these first embarrassments; other colonies have failed from more permanent causes – from mismanagement and misrule.

New Zealand is thus at present only in the transition state from failure to success. South Australia has also from the same cause been retarded, though now so promising yet it is to be remembered, that its present favour arises not so much from its proved prosperity, for many things are radically bad in its formation, but in the accidental discovery among its mountains, of mineral riches, not at first expected to exist.

The position of the colony also is of paramount importance. Farmers, Shepherds and Builders are wanted everywhere. In Australia the Agriculturalist has to turn his attention to the production of European crops – a business that he knows by practice here – at Sydney he must become a Grazier – at an African colony, as a Natal, he must deal in ivory, gold dust and other tropical produce – at St Paul he will find it advisable to cultivate coffee, arrow root, sugar – at Texas, rice, cattle and tobacco will be his staple – in Canada, corn – in New Zealand, wool, flax and timber.

Thus each colony has circumstances attending it necessary to bear in mind, as each implies a difference of pursuits, of capabilities, and of arrangements; and a church and a Wesleyan chapel; and small farms and gardens are arising in every direction, to supply the district with what they must require – fruits and vegetables.

 The ground possessed by the mining company or association is 20,000 acres, but the working part of the Burra Burra mines does not occupy a larger area than 6 acres; in this small space no less than 30 shafts have been dug.

The ore is washed above the surface, and carted away, and this to such an extent, that 100 tons per day may, and have lately been sent to Adelaide for shipment, without any perceptible difference being made in the quantity found.

The miners gain, the most experienced of them, from £12 to £15 a month as wages, and those who are accustomed to the business as much as £30 or even £40 per month; this last is procured by a gang of them taking a lode to themselves and being paid according to the quantity and value of the ore produced; thus, this speculation on their parts is attendant on the chances of finding a rich vein, otherwise they gain less than by daily labour.

Numerous mines all over the country are now ready for working; and lands known to contain minerals, are no longer sold by Government, owing to the great difficulty of finding men to work them; and for many years to come there will be in this department room for all emigrants that can possibly arrive, while their influx will, of course, produce a beneficial action upon the other classes who supply them with the necessaries of life.

Mechanics and Tradesmen – In all colonies, the want of artisans and mechanics depends entirely on its progress and prosperity. An infant colony requires only country carpenters, wheelwrights, blacksmiths, and a few other trades become necessary; another thing to is to be remembered, that colonists mostly bring out with them a good outfit of clothing, etc. and that articles of almost every description are purchase-able ready-made, and brought from England or America. Thus, the employment of tradesmen will always be limited. As to South Australia, there is room now for numerous arts, it having got over; it is to be hoped its infant difficulties. Comfort and even luxury, begin to require very numerous persons, before useless.

Emigrants of this class have the greatest uncertainty attending their employment; agricultural labourers, domestic servants, and miners may arrive in any number, with certainty of good wages; but the employment of mechanics, in their respective trades must depend upon the relative number of them and the other colonists. A colony therefore may be soon over-stocked, even with the most useful of them.

All we can say on this subject is to represent what were the wages of the different classes from the last Government returns, and which are made up to December 1847:-

Wages per day, without Food and Lodging

Blacksmiths	6s. 6d.	Bricklayers	6   9
Bullock Drivers	4   0	Carpenters	6   9
Cabinet  Makers	6   0	Coopers	6   9
Day Labourers	3   9	Masons	7   0
Millers	6   0	Painters and Glaziers	6   6
Plasterers	7   6	Saddlers	5   6
Shoe Makers	6   0	Tailors, per hour	0   8
Tanners	5   6	Wheelwrights	6   9
With Food and Lodging
Bakers, per day	5   0	Butchers	3   0
Shepherds, per week	12   0	Shopmen	4   6
Per Year, with Food etc
House Servant -Male	£ 28	House Servant -Female	£ 18
Farm Servant-Male	£ 10 to 50	Farm Servant-Female	£ 25 to 30

 

Mines and Mining – The great copper mines of Burra Burra and Princess Royal are admitted to be the richest in the world; they were discovered or rather, first worked in September 1845, when the colony was at the lowest ebb, when the emigrants were only 830, and when the colony was so poor that although millions had been spent there, it was with very great difficulty  that £ 20,000 could be subscribed to form a company to work it; yet, in only twelve months, namely, in March 1847, a dividend of 50 per cent, was paid upon the shares, and nearly 10, 000 tons of rich copper ore, worth upon an average £ 17 per ton; since that time, the miners find the ore, upon penetrating deeper into the ground, to be worth £ 30 per ton, costing for the working, dressing, shipment, freight, etc. only about £ 12.

The quantity raised up to March 1847, nearly 10,000 tons; the mine continues now in even greater activity. So lucrative has it been found, that the £ 5 original shares have risen in the money market to £ 160. The Burra Burra mines are situated about 95 miles from Adelaide, in a sort of basin surrounded by hills; and hundreds of men are now employed in building stone cottages for the residences of the miners, who, until such are ready, have lived in caverns near at hand.

A town also, called Kooringa, is now rapidly rising about a half a mile from the mines, and connected by a creek, called the Burra Creek. There are already in this town, two large and handsome inns, elegantly furnished and well stored with choice wines and liquors; also many stores or warehouses where everything wanted may be procured at a moderate price; from a needle to an anchor. There are several butchers and bakers, two breweries, several beer-shops.

This table when compared with the Government returns for the preceding three months, that is, made up to September of the same year, show a great falling off in the amount per day for mechanics, in some cases to as much as one shilling per day; and yet from September to December is their busiest time of the year, being equal to the Spring with us; this is the result of the great number of artisans that had emigrated, and thus were thrown suddenly upon  the colony; forcibly illustrating our remarks upon over-stocking the place with this class of people. The commissioners now send out as many as 250 emigrants per month.

The results may be anticipated. We will now consider the price of provisions and articles of necessity, and apply again to the Government returns, made up to the 31^st of December 1847; and also to September of the same year, that a fair comparison be made.

Retail Price of Articles of Consumption, etc.

1847	Sept.	Dec.
Bread per lb.	0 s. 1 ½ d.	0 s. 1 ½ d.
Fresh Butter	0          10	1             4
Salt ditto	0          10	1             0
Cheese	0            9	0            8
Salt	0            1	0            1
Candles	0            7	0            6
Soap	0            4	0        3 ½
Meat	0        1 ½	0        2 ½
Rice	0        2 ¾	0        2 ½
Sugar	0        3 ½	0        3 ½
Tea	2            0	2            0
Potatoes	0            1	0        0 ¾
Blankets, per pair	12           0	9            6
Boots	13           6	13           6
Shoes Women’s	6            0	5            6
Flannel, per yard	1            6	1            6
Stockings, Men’s	1           6	1            6
Stockings, Women’s	1           4	1            0
Straw Hats	2           6	2           6
Duck Trousers	5           0	3           6
Shirts	2           6	2           6
Moleskin Trousers and Coats	16         0	18         0
Handkerchiefs	0            9	0            8

 

The cost of erecting a house or cottage, suitable for a agricultural labourer, is about £ 30, and the rent of a town lodging, fit for a mechanic, costs from six to eight shillings per week. Persons unable to work from infirmity or ill health, and who have no friends in the colony able to support them, receive relief from Government, by an issue of rations or medicines; they have also,  when necessary, admission into the hospital, with the attendance of the colonial surgeon.

The length of the voyage, cost of outfit and passage, and Government regulations as to free emigrants, are the same, or very nearly so, to all our Australian colonies; we shall therefore speak of these items fully, as well as draw a comparison between these colonies themselves when describing the districts of Sydney and Australia Felix.  They have so many marks in common with the colony now described, that they may be considered as but a continuation of the same subject. Also, it is absolutely necessary that the person intending to emigrate to this part of the world should know them all, because, mutual dealings are indispensable between them, and because, should he fail in rendering himself comfortable in the one, he may choose to migrate to another of these interesting and hopeful establishments.

Bibliography: The Emigrant’s Friend or Authentic Guide to South Australia

Including Sydney, Port Philip, Or Australia Felix; Western Australia, or Swan River Colony; New South Wales; Van Dieman’s Land and New Zealand.

1848