Shipboard: the 19th century emigrant experience

Experience the long voyage to Australia undertaken by thousands of emigrants in the second half of the 19th century.

Back to all stories
Shipboard brings to life the experience of the long voyage to Australia undertaken by thousands of emigrants in the second half of the 19th century.

It focuses on personal and collective experiences of the journey from the United Kingdom to Australia through personal diaries, sketches, published ships’ newspapers and ephemera, drawn from the vast collections of the State Library of NSW.

a3235002h.jpg
Sketches made during a voyage on the sailing ship Parramatta, 1873-1874 / by George Sydney Waterlow {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/sketches-made-during-voyage-sailing-ship-parramatta-1873-1874-george-sydney","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64396\/a3235002h.jpg?itok=k1yYKnOi","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64396\/a3235002h.jpg?itok=oH__jsBp","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64396\/a3235002h.jpg?itok=k1yYKnOi","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64396\/a3235002h.jpg?itok=oH__jsBp","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64396\/a3235002h.jpg?itok=0nnlFhBa","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64396\/a3235002h.jpg?itok=ayrfS9yv","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64396\/a3235002h.jpg?itok=tCjHiRHD"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64396\/a3235002h.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":1400,"height":973}
1873-1874
George Sydney Waterlow
Call # PXA 3314
Digital ID: 
a3235002
View collection item detail
About this item: 
Ship "Eaton Hall". Inscription on back of photo reads: [sic] "Migrants from England to Australia aboard the "Eaton Hall". One representative of each family was below decks cooking or arranging a meal, all the others and some crew are on deck" - On board ship en route to Australia
Migrants from England to Australia aboard the "Eaton Hall" {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/migrants-england-australia-aboard-eaton-hall","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64401\/bcp_02064h.jpg?itok=jQIc98YY","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64401\/bcp_02064h.jpg?itok=mhUKxD-v","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64401\/bcp_02064h.jpg?itok=jQIc98YY","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64401\/bcp_02064h.jpg?itok=mhUKxD-v","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64401\/bcp_02064h.jpg?itok=5HhyJpzU","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64401\/bcp_02064h.jpg?itok=YT8KgMIp","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64401\/bcp_02064h.jpg?itok=pA6I2uie"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64401\/bcp_02064h.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":1400,"height":968}
Call # At Work and Play - 02064
Digital ID: 
bcp_02064
View collection item detail
P&O company steamer "Britannia" leaving Circular Quay - Sydney, NSW {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/po-company-steamer-britannia-leaving-circular-quay-sydney-nsw","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64406\/bcp_02025h.jpg?itok=KDRdcIpi","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64406\/bcp_02025h.jpg?itok=DsOe44-W","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64406\/bcp_02025h.jpg?itok=KDRdcIpi","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64406\/bcp_02025h.jpg?itok=DsOe44-W","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64406\/bcp_02025h.jpg?itok=s3kJsXZh","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64406\/bcp_02025h.jpg?itok=xPvOyNTJ","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64406\/bcp_02025h.jpg?itok=IqGGJnv8"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64406\/bcp_02025h.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":1400,"height":1070}
Call # At Work and Play - 02025
Digital ID: 
bcp_02025
View collection item detail
The "Garonne" journal. {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/garonne-journal","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64411\/a5323001h.jpg?itok=gDVa7wwh","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64411\/a5323001h.jpg?itok=7AQHSg3y","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64411\/a5323001h.jpg?itok=gDVa7wwh","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64411\/a5323001h.jpg?itok=7AQHSg3y","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64411\/a5323001h.jpg?itok=zibpPvau","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64411\/a5323001h.jpg?itok=VPCxoB1U","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64411\/a5323001h.jpg?itok=0GPmB2To"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64411\/a5323001h.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":749,"height":1050}
1879
Call # 910.42/G No.1-no.3 (1879)
Digital ID: 
a5323001
View collection item detail
The "Garonne" journal. {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/garonne-journal-0","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64416\/a5323005h.jpg?itok=jH4m7YQe","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64416\/a5323005h.jpg?itok=z8lj35hS","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64416\/a5323005h.jpg?itok=jH4m7YQe","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64416\/a5323005h.jpg?itok=z8lj35hS","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64416\/a5323005h.jpg?itok=IK6-ymHp","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64416\/a5323005h.jpg?itok=k5fVleOv","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64416\/a5323005h.jpg?itok=JSqRGYtG"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64416\/a5323005h.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":749,"height":1050}
1879
[S.l.] : Printed on board the S.S. "Garonne" by R.W. Comley
Call # 910.42/G No.1-no.3 (1879)
Digital ID: 
a5323005
View collection item detail
Ticket for transport of Mr Anderson and family and Thomas Robertson from Glasgow to Port Phillip, 18 October 1852 {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/ticket-transport-mr-anderson-and-family-and-thomas-robertson-glasgow-port-phillip","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64421\/a5318001h.jpg?itok=KEtPH_kH","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64421\/a5318001h.jpg?itok=rGWjY7sP","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64421\/a5318001h.jpg?itok=KEtPH_kH","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64421\/a5318001h.jpg?itok=rGWjY7sP","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64421\/a5318001h.jpg?itok=34zaFbD9","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64421\/a5318001h.jpg?itok=KarSrWOx","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64421\/a5318001h.jpg?itok=b4wqhiJz"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64421\/a5318001h.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":1400,"height":1096}
18 October 1852
Call # MLDOC 229
Digital ID: 
a5318001
View collection item detail
William J. Jenkin's Passenger ticket, 31 May 1878 {"type":"image","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/collection-items\/william-j-jenkins-passenger-ticket-31-may-1878","thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64426\/a5319001h.jpg?itok=h673xp_n","thumbnailLarge":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64426\/a5319001h.jpg?itok=Ml-oWJKj","mediaDerivativeUrls":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64426\/a5319001h.jpg?itok=h673xp_n","large":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64426\/a5319001h.jpg?itok=Ml-oWJKj","responsive__quarter_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__quarter_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64426\/a5319001h.jpg?itok=d-m86pwn","responsive__half_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__half_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64426\/a5319001h.jpg?itok=1MvuGScj","responsive__full_hd":"https:\/\/www.sl.nsw.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/responsive__full_hd\/https\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64426\/a5319001h.jpg?itok=hRA5WFkB"},"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/prod--slnsw-corporate-site\/uploads\/2018-06\/collection-items\/64426\/a5319001h.jpg","mediaMime":"image\/jpeg","transcriptUrl":null,"width":960,"height":1050}
1878
Call # Aq 2
Digital ID: 
a5319001
View collection item detail

Made possible through a partnership with Robert John Pritchard

Next chapter
Emigrating