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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) 57 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 -
Negative - Fremantle Wharves, Western Australia, 1957
View of Fremantle wharves and buildings, taken from MV Fairsea, October 1957, by John Woods. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and ...
Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Negative - Fremantle Wharves, Western Australia, 1957
View of Fremantle wharves and buildings, taken from MV Fairsea, October 1957, by John Woods. Part of a group of 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives de ...
Images: 0 -
Negative - Foys Department Store Decorated for Christmas, Melbourne, Dec 1957
Exterior view of Foys Department Store, Bourke Street, Melbourne, with Christmas decorations, December 1957. Photo taken by John Woods, who had migrated a few weeks previously and start ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Foys Department Store Decorated for Christmas, Melbourne, Dec 1957
Exterior view of Foys Department Store, Bourke Street, Melbourne, with Christmas decorations, December 1957. Photo taken by John Woods, who had migrated a few weeks previously and start ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Barbara Woods on Deck of MV Fairsea, Port Said, 1957
Barbara Woods relaxing on the deck of MV Fairsea, Port Said, 1957. Part of a group of 12 photographs and 30 negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australia as assiste ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Barbara Woods on Deck of MV Fairsea, Port Said, 1957
Barbara Woods relaxing on the deck of MV Fairsea, Port Said, 1957. Part of a group of 12 photographs and 30 negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australia as assiste ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - View of Fremantle from the MV Fairsea, 1957
Landscape view of Fremantle from the ship MV Fairsea, 1957. Part of a group of 12 photographs and 30 negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australia as assisted migra ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - View of Fremantle from the MV Fairsea, 1957
Landscape view of Fremantle from the ship MV Fairsea, 1957. Part of a group of 12 photographs and 30 negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australia as assisted migra ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - View of Fremantle from the MV Fairsea, 1957
Landscape view of Fremantle from the ship MV Fairsea, 1957. Part of a group of 12 photographs and 30 negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australia as assisted migra ...
Images: 1
