Overview

The story of the 107-day voyage to Tasmania from England in 1857 of the Trade Wind. Most of the passengers were bounty immigrants, recruited on behalf of the Launceston and Hobart Immigration Societies. These Societies were formed because the Van Diemen’s Land (and later the Tasmanian) government was anxious to recruit labourers from Britain; particularly farm labourers of a ‘better class’ than the free convict labour that had been provided to landowners prior to the end of transportation in 1853.

Many died of typhoid fever and/or whooping cough on the voyage. The debility and deaths were attributed mainly to insufficient provisions, medicines, fresh water, ventilation and inappropriate cooking apparatus leading to burnt and spoilt inedible food. There was severe overcrowding with more than two and a half times the amount of adults on board than was legally allowed. Violence and mistreatment of the passengers by the crew was a common occurrence.

The immigrants were sent to the Quarantine Station at Impression Bay before being discharged to their sponsors in 1858.

Some of the immigrants married other immigrants from the Trade Wind after their arrival in Tasmania.

Tasmanian parliamentary papers and a variety of other sources provide factual information.

Open/download a PDF with all Passengers information (pdf size 59mb)

 

Passengers on the ‘Trade Wind’ (not including crew or steerage passengers)

Clicking the Name link opens up a PDF with more information on the selected passenger. To open/download a PDF with all Passengers information click here (pdf size 59mb).

Clicking the Sponsor link opens up a PDF with information on the selected sponsor. To open/download a PDF with all Sponsors information click here (pdf size 830kb).