| Contributed by Mel Stevenson Australia was
fortunate in having a great many Scottish immigants many of whom went on to play a large
part in the early formation of the colony. They came from several sources ie the convicts
and political prisoners, the service men, some of the early naval and army personel were
Scottish, the free immigrants who came to better their life style, these also included
those who paid their own way and those who were inticed by free passage in exchange for
their labour for a certain period of time and the business men who came here as traders
etc.
There was a minister of religion who was instumental in
bringing large bodies of Scottish immigrants to Fortitude Valley in Brisbane Queensland
around 1850's. Some of these were orphans who were given positions as maids and domestic
staff. It was difficult at that time to get good workers particularly for some of the
inland properties. All the early settlers came by ship and conditions were pretty bad,
many succumbed to diseases on the way over. There are many stories like the one about
Thomas Stevenson( no relation)a shepherd from Ayr who came via New Zealand and went on to
own a very large property in Boorowa New South Wales. He built up one of the finest flock
of Merino sheep in Australia and was well known for improving the breed. He won many
prizes for his livestock. He never forgot his homeland though, he sent money home to pay
for his mothers headstone and in his will he left money to his widowed sister still living
in Ayr. I researched his interesting life for a descendant over there a few years ago and
even went to Borrowa to take photos of his grave for her, I think he is a good example of
many of the early Scottish migrants to Australia. He came from humble beginnings, he came
to work and he stayed because he found opportunities for anyone who was prepared to work
hard but he never forgot his homeland. |
