Description of voyages on SS Great Britain, 16 February 1857-22 August 1857

 
Component identifier:
Series 1
Content Summary:

The journal kept by Archer contains entries made nearly every day with a list on p.6 of dates, latitude and longitude coordinates with distances travelled. It can be divided into three sections:

1. Liverpool to Melbourne 16 Feb to 19 April 1857. Includes: due to small number of passengers Archer was able to occupy a state room; sea sickness; description of passengers and reasons for travelling; surgeon's duties on board; speaking with other ships; sighting of jelly fish, birds, fishes, porpoises; ceremonies of crossing the line; entertainment on board - dancing, concerts; death of passengers and burial at sea; use of screw; sighting of Aurora Borealis; party at end of voyage - address from saloon passengers to Captain.

2. Stay in Melbourne 19 April to 20 May 1857. Includes: visits from friends, reporters, agents - "The people reminded me of Americans"; natural history expeditions on shore, catching specimens of jelly fish, birds, insects, shells, lizards etc; description of Melbourne "very English"; tour of the hospital; visits to Williamstown, St Kilda, Hawthorne, Brighton, Geelong; eating oysters at a shop on Bourke Street; visit to Theatre Royal to see Brooke in "Winter's Tale"; shooting parties.

3. Liverpool via Cape Horn 21 May-22 August 1857. Includes: leaving harbour with band playing; sighting of new gull; dancing; crossing date line, two days dated 1st June gale-sails split, shipping water - foot deep in the saloon; speaking with other ships; visit to Island of St. Vincente, description of inhabitants - ravaged by cholera six months before - and natural history; Mr Bright meets ship at Liverpool.

Processing information:
M2343

Online content

Access and use

Parent Restrictions:
Available for Access.
Parent Terms of Access:
Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: