Guide to the Letter of Thomas Birkby, May 31, 1836

Filter Online content

Some materials from this collection are available online.

Collection number:: MS 4216
Creator:: Rex Nan Kivell
Extent:: (2 folders + 2 volumes)
Language:: English and English
Availability:: Available
Access conditions:: Available for reference. Not for loan.
Cultural Sensitivity Advisory Notice:: Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and other First Nations people are advised that this collection contains content that may be culturally sensitive, and may cause distress. Please also be aware that you may see certain words or descriptions within these works which reflect the author's attitude, or that of the period in which the works were created, and may now be considered inaccurate, inappropriate or offensive.

Content Summary:: Letter, 31st May, 1836, to his father, written for Birkby by William Hutchinson - re (a) Voyage to Port Jackson, 1834. (b) His work with the Surveyor-General, as overseer at the Surveyor's farm at Cataract and Nepean Rivers, and as overseer of a farm in Sydney (c) Description of conditions of employment in the Colony, wages, the price of provisions, tobacco, clothing and livestock. He describes the country, its insects, birds and reptiles. He devotes several paragraphs to the treatment of the convicts and lists their allowances of clothing and food.

Location of this collection:: National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia