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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 41 - 50) 57 items
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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
