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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 - 50) 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 -
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 - Barbara Woods Hanging Out Washing, MV Fairsea, 1957
Barbara Woods hanging out washing deckside on board MV Fairsea, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration t ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Barbara Woods Hanging Out Washing, MV Fairsea, 1957
Barbara Woods hanging out washing deckside on board MV Fairsea, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration t ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Three Couples at a Table on the MV Fairsea, 1957
Three couples sitting at a table on board MV Fairsea, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australi ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Three Couples at a Table on the MV Fairsea, 1957
Three couples sitting at a table on board MV Fairsea, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australi ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Three Couples at a Table on the MV Fairsea, 1957
Three couples sitting at a table on board MV Fairsea, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australi ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - View of Port Said from the MV Fairsea, Egypt, 1957
View of Port Said from the deck of MV Fairsea, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australia as as ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - View of Port Said from the MV Fairsea, Egypt, 1957
View of Port Said from the deck of MV Fairsea, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australia as as ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - View of Port Said from the MV Fairsea, Egypt, 1957
View of Port Said from the deck of MV Fairsea, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australia as as ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Barbara, John & Rose Woods on Front Porch, Little Missenden, England, 1957
Barbara and John Woods standing in a door way on the day they departed the United Kingdom, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Barbara, John & Rose Woods on Front Porch, Little Missenden, England, 1957
Barbara and John Woods standing in a door way on the day they departed the United Kingdom, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - View of London from Train, England, 1957
A view of London taken from a train, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australia as assisted migr ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - View of London from Train, England, 1957
A view of London taken from a train, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods migration to Australia as assisted migr ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Crossing the Equator Ceremony, MV Fairsea, 1957
A man taking part in a crossing the equator ceremony onboard MV Fairsea, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods mi ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Crossing the Equator Ceremony, MV Fairsea, 1957
A man taking part in a crossing the equator ceremony onboard MV Fairsea, 1957. 12 black and white photographs and 30 black and white copy negatives depicting Barbara and John Woods mi ...
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 -
Certificate - Crossing the Equator, MV Fairsea, Sitmar Line, 1957
Crossing the Equator certificate, MV Fairsea, 1957. Barbara and John Woods migrated to Australia as assisted migrants from Buckinghamshire on the MV Fairsea in 1957. The Barbara and Jo ...
Images: 1 -
Handbag - Egyptian Scene, 1957
Handbag purchased in Port Said by Barbara Woods from a trade boat or 'bum boat' alongside MV Fairsea, 1957. Barbara and John Woods migrated to Australia as assisted migrants from Bucki ...
Images: 5 -
Leaflet - Plant Quarantine, circa 1957
Leaflet entitled 'Will Your Baggage Pass the Test for Plant Quarantine?', issued by the Australian News and Information Bureau for the Federal Department of Health and State Departments ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 10 -
Leaflet - Postal Information, MV Fairsea, 1957
Postal information for passengers intending to travel on the MV Fairsea, Sitmar Lines, departing Southampton 20 September 1957. Issued to intending immigrants Barbara and John Woods, w ...
From: Genoa, Italy Images: 2 -
Leaflet - Taxation Rates in Australia, 1955/56
Taxation Rates in Australia, for the year 1955/56, issued by Australia House, London. Issued to intending immigrants Barbara and John Woods, who migrated from Buckinghamshire on the MV ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 1 -
Menu - MV Fairsea, Sitmar Line, Equatorial Dinner, 1957
Menu for the Equatorial Dinner on the MV Fairsea, Sitmar Lines, 8 October 1957. Issued to immigrants Barbara and John Woods, who migrated from Buckinghamshire on the MV Fairsea in 1957 ...
From: Genoa, Italy Images: 4 -
Menu - MV Fairsea, Sitmar Line, Farewell Dinner, 22 Oct 1957
Menu for the Farewell Dinner on the MV Fairsea, Sitmar Lines, 22 October 1957. Issued to immigrants Barbara and John Woods, who migrated from Buckinghamshire on the MV Fairsea in 1957. ...
From: Genoa, Italy Images: 9 -
Passenger Ticket - MV Fairsea, Sitmar Lines, issued to Barbara Woods, 1957
Passenger ticket issued to Barbara Woods, for assisted passage on the MV Fairsea, Sitmar Lines, sailing from Southampton to Melbourne, departing 20 September 1957. Ticket dated 30 Augus ...
From: Genoa, Italy Images: 8 -
Passenger Ticket - MV Fairsea, Sitmar Lines, issued to John Woods, 1957
Passenger ticket issued to John Woods, for assisted passage on the MV Fairsea, Sitmar Lines, sailing from Southampton to Melbourne, departing 20 September 1957. Ticket dated 30 August 1 ...
From: Genoa, Italy Images: 9 -
Photograph - Barbara Woods, Fremantle, Western Australia, 1957
Barbara Woods returning to ship in Fremantle after catching a bus for a few hours in Perth, 1957. Barbara and John Woods migrated to Australia as assisted migrants from Buckinghamshire ...
From: Fremantle, Australia Images: 2 -
No Image Available
Photograph - Barbara Woods Hanging Out Washing, MV Fairsea, 1957
Barbara Woods hanging out washing deckside on board MV Fairsea, 1957. Barbara and John Woods migrated to Australia as assisted migrants from Buckinghamshire on the MV Fairsea in 1957. ...
Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Photograph - 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 ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0 -
Photograph - Group of Passangers on the MV Fairsea, Port Said, Egypt, 1957
Group photograph of passengers on MV Fairsea, 1957, during a stop in Port Said. Barbara Woods is on the left. Barbara and John Woods migrated to Australia as assisted migrants from Buc ...
From: Suez Canal, Egypt Images: 2 -
Photograph - Group Image, MV Fairsea, Aden, 1957
Group photograph of passengers having drinks in Aden, during a stop of the MV Fairsea, 1957. Photo taken by John Woods; Barbara Woods is second from left. Barbara and John Woods migrat ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Three Couples at a Table on the MV Fairsea, 1957
Group photograph of passengers having dinner on MV Fairsea, 1957. Barbara Woods is on the left; John Woods on the right, Barbara and John Woods migrated to Australia as assisted migran ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - John & Barbara Woods, Melbourne, 1958
John and Barbara Woods at the first Foy and Gibsons Ball (where John worked), Melbourne, 1958. Standing near the steps outside the building. Barbara and John Woods migrated from Buckin ...
Images: 1
