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Archiver > AUS-QLD-SE-Germans > 2001-01 > 0979779296


From: "Andrew & Vicki Genrich" <>
Subject: Re: German Assisted Passages
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 10:54:56 +1000
References: <00cd01c07f9c$b9da6fa0$1bad93cb@helendmc>


Denise

I can only give an example of my Ggrandparents who came from Berlin, sailing
from London to Brisbane in October 1879. I have the original ticket. It is
a 'second cabin passengers' contract ticket' from Green's Blackwall Line and
Devitt & Moore's Australian Line.

They were the only passengers on what was essentially a cargo ship.
Equal to statute adults
2 parents 2 adults
2 teenagers 2 adults
3 children 1.5 adults
7 souls 5.5 statute adults + 20 cubic feet of luggage per
statute adult.
(Their luggage included an upright piano!)

Total sum British Pounds 115-10-0 (ie 115 pounds 10 shillings)

I also have an original ticket for a "Free passage certificate of Queensland
Government Passengers" from 1882, for an Arthur Smyth? a 23 year old
sailing from Plymouth to Brisbane for a steerage berth which cost British
Pound 1. (One pound).

So as you can see there is quite a disparity between the cost of these two
passages - depending on whether they paid for themselves or received an
assisted passage. All I can suggest is try and look at their 'station in
life' at the time. Were they farm labourers, business people or did they
become politicians? This might give some small clue as to whether they paid
their own way or were assisted.

I can't really imagine what the spending power of 115 pounds would be worth
today - perhaps AUD50,000. Does anyone know what a 19th century pound
would convert to today?

I THINK that you can find out at the Qld Archives as to a person's
immigration 'status', eg Free nominated. I don't know how, but someone else
on the list might be able to confirm/deny/elaborate on this comment.

Cheers

Andrew Genrich
Brisbane

----- Original Message -----
From: Denise McMahon <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2001 7:14 PM
Subject: Fw: German Assisted Passages


| >
| I am interested in finding out how much our ancestors paid to come to
| > > Australia in the 1850's, assuming they paid their own way.
| > >


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