The Assisted Passages to Queensland Scheme
The Assisted Passages to Queensland Scheme was set up by the Queensland government and was granted to a limited number of persons eligible by age and occupation. The payment was £8 per adult and two children of twelve months and under twelve years were classed as one adult. Men had to be under 40 years and women under 35 years.
To Implement the scheme, an agent-general’s office was opened in London. Enthusiastic men established the colony as the ideal home for migrants so successfully that ty the 1880s Queensland was considered the immigration colony of Australia. the agents mounted a formidable campaign which included local advertisements, a comprehensive lecture programme throughtou England, Wales, Scot and Ireland, widespread distribution of descriptive literature including picture postcards, and participation in agricultural show. Samples of Queensland produce such as barley, Wheat and sugar were exhibited at lectures so local farmers could assess the high quality.1
Emigration Map
One such example of this advertising is the Emigration Map of Queensland which was constructed from the most recent surveys and explorations by W. & A.K. Johnston, Geographers & engravers to the Queen, Edinburgh, 1865. A world map insert shows the voyage from Edinburgh round the Cape of Good Hope through Bass Strait and up the east coast to Brisbane. The second inset map shows Australia with Queensland in Green. The map includes the paths of explorers Leighhardt, McKinlay, Burke, Wills, King & Gray, Landsborough and Sturt and includes some of their observations such as ‘Low sand hills & black soil plains’.2
A description of Queensland from the map is given as follows:
Queensland was established as a distinct Colony in 1859, under Sir G. Bowen as first Governor. Area 678,000 sq. miles, or six times as large as Great Britain, of this about 195,000 sq. miles is occupied by pastoral stations. Pop. (1861) 30,059, (1864) 61,372. Immigrants from Britain (1862) 8,573. In 1864 colonists arrived at the rate of 300 per week. Capital Brisbane, Pop. (1861) 4,225, (1864) 12,000. Imports (1862) ₤1,330,225. Exports ₤769,742. Wool exported (1860) 5,007167lbs. Value ₤444,188. Amount of Cotton grown in year ending 31. Dec. 1863 – 34,000lbs. Gold, Copper and Tin are found in several localities. Coal & Iron are abundant. Climate well adapted for the growth of the Sugar Cane, maize, arrowroot and the Coffee-tree. The mulberry tree is grown and good silk manufactured. Number of Sheep in the colony (1861) 3,449,350. Cattle 432,890. Horses 23,504. Public revenue (1862) ₤346,431. Expenditure ₤318,311. Climate warm but healthy, resembles that of Madiera. Mean annual temp. at Brisbane 68° June & July 55° Dec. & Jan. 78½ Fahr. Rainfall 43 inches, during 108 days chiefly in Feb. March, April and August. Distance from Liverpool to Brisbane 17,500 miles. Average time by sailing vessel 94 days.3
Migration Agents
One such migration agent was George Randall. He was born in Hertford, England in 1843 and married Naomi Jackson from Anwick, Lincolnshire in 1868 and immediately left for Queensland, Australia. After 7 years hard work, he acquired premises in South Brisbane where he manufactured confectionery and jams. In 1877 he returned to England and his enthusiasm for Queensland was obvious in newspaper correspondence and his unsolicited but popular lectures.
The family returned to Brisbane and in 1881, St Arthur Palmer appointed him lecturer and emigration agent in England. From October that year, he visited nearly every county, concentrating on the farming districts of Norfolk, Lincolnshire and western Yorkshire. His optimistic reports in English and Queensland newspapers encouraged agricultural labourers experiencing depressed conditions to migrate. George returned to his family in February 1884 but immediately was reappointed and toured the colony before resuming duties in England in March 1885. When Queensland experienced further economic difficulties late in 1889, once more the slight figure with his neat beard returned to Brisbane.
The government re-employed Randall from January 1890, when he again toured Queensland. His third English term, this time accompanied by his family, lasted for four years from July 1891. He also returned for a six year term from 1897.