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Barbara & John Woods, British Migrants, 1957
Image: Photograph - John and Barbara Woods, Melbourne, 1958
Source: Museum Victoria
Barbara and John Woods migrated to Australia from England in 1957.
They had married in 1955 when Barbara was 19 years old, following a whirlwind romance. They lived with extended family in commission housing in Little Missenden, Buckinghamshire. While John had secure employment in sales and Barbara in finance, they were unable to obtain their own house. This motivated them to migrate to Australia, which they chose over Canada for its warmer climate.
They migrated on an Australian government assisted passage scheme, paying ten pounds for each ticket, in exchange for agreeing to remain in Australia for at least two years. Over one million 'ten pound tourists' or 'ten pound Poms' migrated to Australia from Britain between 1947 and 1972.
Barbara and John Woods travelled on the Sitmar Line MV Fairsea from Southampton and Barbara's diary describes their journey as a mixture of excitement, boredom and exotic foods and ports.
John had been selected to work for Foys department store in Melbourne but the job didn't start immediately. When they arrived they went through the Commonwealth Labour Exchange in Preston; John started as a tram conductor (which lasted 6 weeks) and Barbara was employed at Nylex industries in Abbotsford. They first lived in a flat in Fairfield and then in 1960 purchased two blocks in Thomastown and built their house where they still live today.
The Barbara and John Woods Collection comprises documents and photographs that provide a comprehensive insight into the Woods' immigration experience, from the issuing of their passage tickets, to their arrival in Melbourne. The collection includes the migration promotional booklets given to the Woods, tickets, ship menus, government booklets and documents received upon arrival, a handbag purchased from the side of the ship in Port Said, Egypt and photographs taken during the voyage.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 1 - 10) 33 items
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Receipt - Passport for John Woods, 1957
Receipt issued by the Chief Migration Officer, Australia House, London, to John William Woods for surrender of his passport to the Chief Migration Officer. Assisted migrants to Australi ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 1 -
Booklet - Australia, A Welcome Awaits, circa 1956
Booklet, 'Australia, A Welcome Awaits', circa 1956 Issued to intending immigrants Barbara and John Woods, who migrated from Buckinghamshire on the MV Fairsea in 1957. The Barbara and J ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 7 -
Booklet - An Invitation, State Savings Bank of Victoria, circa 1957
Booklet 'An Invitation,' issued by State Savings Bank of Victoria, circa 1957. Issued to intending immigrants Barbara and John Woods, who migrated from Buckinghamshire on the MV Fairse ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 13 -
Booklet - Facts About Customs Duty in Australia, 1957
Booklet on 'Facts About Customs Duty in Australia', edition no, 5, issued April 1957 by the Department of Immigration, Australia House, London. Issued to intending immigrants Barbara a ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 5 -
Booklet - Facts About Finance for the Emigrant to Australia, March 1957
Booklet on 'Facts About Finance for the Emigrant to Australia', edition no, 6, issued March 1957 by the Department of Immigration, Australia House, London. Issued to intending immigran ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 11 -
Booklet - Facts About Health and National Fitness in Australia, Jan 1957
Booklet on 'Facts About Health and National Fitness in Australia, for the information of intending migrants from the British Isles', edition no, 5, issued January 1957 by the Department ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 12 -
Booklet - Facts About Housing in Australia, 1956
Booklet on 'Facts About Housing in Australia', edition no, 4, issued May 1956 by the Department of Immigration, Australia House, London. Issued to intending immigrants Barbara and John ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 6 -
Booklet - Facts About Quarantine in Australia, March 1957
Booklet on 'Facts About Quarantine in Australia, for the information of intending migrants from the British Isles', edition no, 4, issued March 1957 by the Department of Immigration, Au ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 7 -
Booklet - Facts About Your Voyage to Australia, 1957
Booklet on 'Facts About Your Voyage to Australia', edition no, 3, issued February 1957 by the Department of Immigration, Australia House, London. Issued to intending immigrants Barbara ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 13 -
Booklet - Information for the Guidance of Passengers Arriving in Australia, 1955
Booklet, 'Information for the Guidance of Passengers Arriving in Australia', produced by the Australian Department of Trade & Customs, 1955. Issued to intending immigrants Barbara and ...
From: Canberra, Australia Images: 2
