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Source: Museum Victoria / Author Ally Heathcote
Monday September 21st 1874
We came on board with our relatives at noon, a little after them as we had to pass the Doctor, I suppose to ascertain whether we were bringing any contagious disease on board. We went below to see our future home for the following two months, the first look at our berths was not so favourable as we would have liked but we must put up with inconvenience on board a vessel like the one we had chosen for the means of transport to our adopted country. We had left our native town amid the prayers and blessings of our dear relatives and friends, and I am sure no one left their country with more prayers than did my parents, brother and sister and I. We are leaving one home to make another in the opposite extreme of her Majesty’s dominions.
At the appointed hour for starting, the bell was sung for the visitors to leave the ship, we had to bid farewell to our dear relatives for a time at least and as soon as possible the anchor was drawn up and our good ship, amid the cheers of the crew and the firing off of a gun, glided elegantly out of the harbour at Gravesend.
Smoothly she sailed down the Thames and we stood on the bulwark and viewed the scenery which was fine, we
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Monday September 21st 1874 (continued)
passed several vessels in and about the harbour, some were coming in from their outward voyage. The scenery was quite new and interesting to me but still in the midst of it my thoughts wandered to the dear ones I had just bid goodbyes to. We retired to our berths at half past eight, very tired and sleepy.
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25th
I have heard it said that the Bay of Biscay was the most dreaded part of the voyage to Australia, but I must say that our passage through it was such that no one could have been displeased at. We came across some porpoises which amused us very much, dozens of them, rolling about on every side and floundering about most amusingly. We feel rather at a loss what to do to kill time, and I like to lean on the bulwarks and gaze on the ocean. I think watching the ocean reminds one of the power of the Creator, and makes one have a feeling of awe and reverence for He who made the ocean, and I think those words are very applicable, Such art thou stupendous ocean, that is overwhelmed by thee;
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25th (continued)
Can we think without emotion, What must thy Creator be. The log for today is Lat 45 – 58, Long 9 – 35, Distance 200 knots.
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Sunday 27th
Our first Sunday at sea, how very different from the peaceful Sundays we spent in the dear old town, in which we all joined in singing Gods praises and listening to the words uttered by our dear minister. I fancied this morning I was back in my old place in Church and could hear the organ playing and the voices of the congregation joining in the happy chorus to Almighty God for mercies he had bestowed to them. This morning we had Service on the poop, over the saloon cabins at ½ past ten. The Captain ordered the bell to be rung and we all went and he read the prayers and the Doctor the lessons. Just imagine having Service on a vessel with the ocean rolling about us, and out of sight of land we sang the hymn commencing All People That On Earth Do Dwell. The passengers, most of them except those who are utterly irreligious, were at the Service. The Captain read one of the prayers for use at sea, in a very impressive manner, all on board seem in such repose and quiet today and it makes it quite pleasant, the sailors are all in their clean dress and they are such a nice orderly crew, they seem to attend to their work well and are very able and kind. As I was writing this one of the gentlemen out of the second cabin asked us to go down in their cabin, they were going to have a Bible Class, one of the ladies from the saloon had a children’s service at 2 o’clock and she said if any one wished to have singing and prayer
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Sunday 27th (continued)
went down and enjoyed it very much. We sang some beautiful hymns and some of them offered up prayers, Ma, indeed all of us enjoyed it, it made it appear a little bit more like Sunday and we are to have the same every Sunday. I had no idea we had such good people on board, and its such a comfort to us who have been accustomed to attending Church and School, she read the 17th Chapter about the flowing out of the water, and then the 8th Chapter of Romans and the last of Revelations, and she commented on them all. We all felt better today as the wind has slightly changed, we have had head winds since we started but they are more favourable now and we shall go much quicker now than before.
We are in latitude 29 – 37, Longitude 13 – 35, Distance 221 knots.
So ends the first Sunday at sea, and we trust Gods blessings may be put upon us all. Since I closed this I had an invitation to go down in the 2nd cabin to sing. They have a lot of singers amongst them and all have music books, we stayed a long time and then promenaded about till Maggie got sleepy so went down to our berths and turned in.
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Monday Oct 5th
Another scorching day. They have had the hold open today and taken up some boxes and stores, but we have not seen ours, as they cant be touched till we land (D V) in Melbourne. We are sorry we did not leave out our music, as we intend if possible getting up a concert in our cabin, the second mate said he wished somebody would enliven them up, for the sailors say they have never had such a dull lot of passengers on board before. The crew are a jolly lot, and every evening on the deck they have music amongst themselves. I suppose when they cross the line, they often play some tricks on the passengers. I wish they would, it would just be the thing and make us laugh. Oh, I wish it would rain a little, it would make it cooler. I went up on deck and walked about with a young girl who is in our cabin, she is much younger than I but is a nice girl and is company for me, I am glad for I felt quite alone. We (she and I) promenade the decks till we are tired, and then bid each other good night and turn in. We had singing on the focsle (on forecastle) tonight, and a prayer meeting on Wednesday. Miss Medham seems to have one object in view, to reform some of us, I suppose she will think it is required, we took up our tea on the focsle and enjoyed it very much, the log for today is Latitude 10 – 30, Longitude 19 – 20, Distance 205 knots.
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Wednesday Oct 7th
Awoke this morning to find it raining heavily, rather a miserable day to look forward too but our folks are taking some buckets to catch the rain water as we intend having a washing day, if we are spared till tomorrow. The sailors scrubbed our cabin out this morning, they do it twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday, they use chloride of lime and it makes the boards look quite new and white, tomorrow we are hoping to cross the line and then we expect to have the trade winds, if we had been on a sailing ship, probably we should not have been any farther than the Bay of Biscay. We have some delightful evenings, and the sunsets are much more gorgeous than we see them at home. The log for today is Latitude 4 – 21, Longitude 16 – 22, Distance 188 knots.
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Friday October 9th
We had scarcely got thoroughly awake this morning before we had a pugilistic encounter between two of the male passengers in our cabin, they sit at the next table to us and are constantly quarrelling over their food. There are eight of them in one mess, all gentlemen with one exception, it appears to me they have been born grumbling. They take their turns, two together for a week to cook for all the lot, and today being the last day for two of them, they thought they would end in a forcible manner. They flew at each other like prize fighters but two other men quickly separated them, but they looked as though they would murder each other, they got a little calmed but I can assure you it caused great excitement on board. We had that for the general topic for the rest of the day, after breakfast, I went on deck and stood on the spar and looked over the side. The water was a beautiful colour, a prussian blue, out in the water is dark blue but as we near land it changes to pale green and is not half as nice. We see any amount of flying fishes, they are about the size of herrings and come up in schools, about a dozen of them at once, one came on the deck but they threw it over again, we have seen a great number of beautiful tropical birds flying about, but have not caught any yet. The log is latitude 2 – 16, Longitude 15 – 9, Distance 207 knots.
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Friday 23rd October
Another fearful cold day. We are starved to death almost, our good ship rolls us about in a frightful style, every meal time we have to hold on to the tables and seats and keep our cups from wandering all over the
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Friday 23rd October (continued)
cabin. During the night, we have been constantly on the move, first one side then the other, and we have been troubled to an alarming extent during the hot weather with a brown kind of insect, a terror to tidy English matrons and maidens, and one of the ladies in my cabin says she will pin a letter onto her berth to certify that it will accommodate a regiment of things besides a lady, of. We have fared better course you will comprehend the name of the regiment than the second cabin passengers, as they have the engine right in the midst of them and it made it much hotter. It would take up too much room to dot down all the mishaps and adventures we encounter, so I must be brief, we often as we sit down in our cabin see the water rising much higher than the bulwarks, and then we hear a rush and a hearty laugh, as it is too comical a scene to witness a lot of folks running out of the way of the sea, and it rushing after them and giving their toes a slight ducking, not many ladies appear on deck except if they have an escort, as it is almost impossible to stand alone, but tonight we had quite a grand procession headed by one of the officers and one engineer, we walked two abreast and pretty soon got quite warm. I stood inside the cook house to warm myself before going down and the cook gave me some cocoa, he is very kind and often gives us some little cakes, he says he likes to oblige the ladies, but now it is bed time and the storekeeper will be down in a minute or two to order out the lights so I must close. Today’s log is Latitude 41 – 30, Longitude 13 – 25, Distance 245 knots.
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October 29th Thursday
Willie came and awoke me this morning, but it smelled rather cold and I could have done very well to have stayed in bed all day and been comfortable, but Mamma is suffering frightfully and wants someone to attend to her. When I got out of my cabin I saw it snowing away at a great rate, we hope to have it a little warmer with our ship going South, we feel the cold very much, one of the lady passengers had not seen snow for 13 years as she had been at St Vincent, one of the Cape De Verde Islands, she went on deck to look at the snow but came down very soon, probably this will be the last really severe weather we shall feel so we must be content. The storekeeper got tipsy yesterday so the Captain ordered him in irons for his intemperance and sent him on the Poop all in the cold. I should think that will have cooled his brains and taught him how to employ his time better than drinking, and one of the crew disobeyed orders and was put in irons and sent to keep the storekeeper company. This morning they were both about their work, as usual, and seemed none the worse for being kept in bondage during the night, this noon some of the folks were playing snowball at the end of our cabin, it is only about three weeks since we were on the brink of being roasted alive in the tropics, it has come on
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October 29th Thursday (continued)
us quite suddenly and many of the passengers suffer in consequence. Maggie and I went on deck for a few minutes but the decks were slippery. We are expecting it rather stormy, but we must trust in Providence. Latitude 44 – 29, Longitude 47 – 13, Distance 200 knots.
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Saturday October 31st
We have offered up our prayers this morning to thank God for the safe deliverance we have had from (what had every appearance, and what we expected to be) a watery grave, since I left off writing last night we have had the greatest storm this ship ever encountered, about 10 o’clock last night, after most of the passengers had retired, Willie among the number (Papa, Mamma, Bert and I) were sat at one of the tables. The wind was screeching and howling through the rigging, there were three men steering at the wheel, all lashed to, the wind was something dreadful, we imagined and felt thankful that you were safe in your homes, away from all danger, and we were expecting every minute the ship would go down. We were just wondering how long the storm would last and sending up a silent prayer for protection when crash went something on deck, and the water swept over the decks and down in the cabin, we gave ourselves up for lost and the people rushed out of their cabins looking terrified. Ma sat quite calm, I looked at her and could see her lips moving, she was pale as death and so was Papa, we did not know what had been the matter, some thought it was the cookhouse washed away but one of the passengers who is a Sea Captain went on deck and came and said it was only a little bit of the flimsy part of the bulwarks gone, the hatching had broken open in the second class cabin and they were almost able to bathe, as the water then had come in, they all had to get to work baling out, all hands were called up,
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Saturday October 31st (continued)
even the waiters had to start baling water out of the saloon as there in some parts it was a foot deep, the windows were all smashed and the things were all floating, we in our cabin fared the best, as we had not much in comparison. One of the gentlemen has the cabin on deck next to the chief officer, he was laid on bed reading when smash went the windows and he was tossed off the bed to the other side, the water poured down in the engine house and almost put out the fires, indeed, steam has no use, only to keep the ship straight, the sea had struck her a little sideway, had it struck her broadside nothing but a miracle could have saved her, the force of the sea the time the crash happened was so strong it turned the engine backwards. We were afraid the ship had got on fire, but our fears were speedily dispelled on that point, one of the waiters was holding on to the cook house but he found himself pretty soon laid nearly under the spar, it was providential he was saved, many other narrow escapes there were, but Gods hand was guiding us and Ma says we had got to thinking too much of landing at Melbourne and He has sent this to remind us of the old adage, Man proposes but God disposes, and how weak and dependent we are. We trust this lesson, severe though it has been, will strike deep in some of our hearts and teach us to think more of him, who rules the stormy winds and waves. Of our Captain we must speak with all praise, he took the watch himself on the poop, but it blew him off,
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Saturday October 31st (continued)
and he had to cling to the rigging, what a position on a night like we had, but he never leaves his post in rough weather, except for a taste of refreshment, we have a good commander and God guard and protect him always is the prayers of the passengers. This morning the wind has almost spent its fury though we have a heavy rolling sea, but we are gradually nearing our destination, if it please God we may ever reach it. It is much warmer today, we none of us took our clothes off but threw ourselves down in bed just as we were. I never slept at all till after we heard the bells for four o’clock, then I got a little sleep but not much, but before morning the storm had somewhat abated and we were able to go on deck and see the devastation the storm had made, it was far worse than we expected, the bulwarks along the starboard side were carried away, 44 feet by 5 feet 6 inches, and the iron down to the deck was bent and broken like a piece of tin, the sea must have been in its greatest fury to bend and break as it had done, and we shall have to present ourselves in Melbourne with a crippled ship. I was speaking to the 2nd Mate, a Frenchman, and he said there would be about thirty tons of water on the decks, the time the crash took place (tell Willie to reduce that to pounds) the sea smashed right over the main yard arm in the place where they clean the knives (we call it the knife house), 2 of the waiters were in cleaning knives and though the doors and windows were fastened tight,
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Saturday October 31st (continued)
the water came in and was as high as their waists, and as soon as they got the door opened, out rushed the water, knives as well, all over the deck. The Captain came down about eleven o’clock and assured us all was right and the worst was over, but every time a greater wave than usual came I said, Oh we are going now, but Ma said not yet, God will protect us. I went into Willie’s cabin and asked him was he not afraid, but he said no, I know in whom to put my trust and that comforts me. I left him with an indefinable feeling of relief and comfort when he had said that and I then put more confidence in God. I am afraid we forget Gods goodness and mercy often till something happens like that which I have feebly described to bring our minds back to him, on whom alone, we can safely rely. Latitude 44 – 10, Longitude 52 – 21, Distance 132 knots.
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Monday November 2nd
We have had a pleasant day, and this morning up went the screw and the sails were set, one of the crew remarked she (the ship) looked well in her dress, meaning the sails, we are going well now. This morning we had a fine commotion in our cabin. I was just about finishing dressing my hair and intended going on deck before dinner when Florrie Middleton came and knocked at the cabin door, Oh Ally she says, whatever is the matter, here’s the Captain and 1st Mate, I threw on my cloak and turned out to see, Mr Wakefield had fetched him to search his nephews box, during the time Mr Wakefield was in the Hospital, his nephew had taken advantage of his uncles illness and had helped himself to money and a handsome Albert Guard, one Mr Wakefield had given 21 pounds for in Ballarat, he said his nephew had them somewhere, he had taken it out of Mr Wakefield’s box and showed it to 2 of the passengers, one of them is very fond of sketching and had for some reason or other drawn the pattern which was very peculiar and rare, anyhow, the Captain ordered him to open his box in the presence of us all, he looked as if he wished himself away, of course it could not be found, his uncle says he will give him in charge as soon as he lands, only yesterday he took a silk pocket handkerchief
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Monday November 2nd (continued)
out of his nephew’s pocket, one that was given to him before he left Bristow, he has missed 2 gold rings and his nephew has been seen with them, he must have them secreted somewhere, and as soon as the Captain had gone he took a bucket of slops to empty and some think it contained the jewellery, it caused quite a sensation amongst us, he is the black sheep of the Northumberland. I went on deck after dinner and stayed all afternoon. When we feel inclined to have tea before the usual hour we take some cold water and get it exchanged for boiling, and often we have finished tea before the others commence, after tea I went on deck again and sat and walked about till it struck ½ past 8, so came down to write a little. Our Will has just come down whistling. Maggie is just going to bed, some of the folks are playing chess and draughts and others reading and carding. Ma is sitting watching me with her head enveloped in a shawl, looking as if the fate of the English nation depended on her actions, but I am sorry to say she still suffers, we hope that will soon be all right. We shall have to put out the lamps soon, so I will stop scribbling and read till the bells give us warning. Latitude 43 – 52, Longitude 61 – 31, Distance 252 knots.
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Saturday Nov 7th
First thing this morning when I awoke I thought I would see what sort of morning it was, so Ma and I went up on deck and I was speaking to the 4th Mate and said I always got up before my breakfast, talking about breakfast made me feel that I should like something tasty, so I told Ma I would go down and prepare it, but on the top step of the companion ladder, and there are ten of them, I missed my hold of the hand rail and the vessel gave a lurch just then, I fell right to the bottom on my head. I gave it an awful thump which made me see stars in consequence. I remember someone picking me up and seating me on a box, though many of them fancied I was died as I laid so still, they brought me water and smelling salts but I had stunned myself. Ma was following my example in her haste, but someone held her fast till she regained her footing, after I came round they helped me on to the bed and I lay down. I can scarcely tell the extent of my bruises yet, I shall feel them more tomorrow, my head and back are very painful and I have severely hurt all of my left hand fingers, someone wanted to run for the doctor, but he had teased me a little time ago and said he would like me in the Hospital for a short time,
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Saturday Nov 7th (continued)
I said they must not tell him, but one of the second cabin stewards told him and when he came he laughed and said, oh it is you is it, and ordered me to be kept quiet and get some rest, so I slept a little and felt better when I awoke, but my head is dreadful and makes me feel sick and the vessel is all on one side, and being unable to do anything, I feel quite miserable. The passengers are exceedingly kind to me and send me all sorts of delicacies, and Papa says he is besieged every time he presents himself on deck with enquires after me. Ma helped me to bed and I slept pretty well, considering how I was shook, but I do feel thankful to God for preserving my life. One of the ladies in the Saloon when she heard of it brought me my dinner and a beautiful book (which she has given me), again at night she brought me a bowl of arrowroot and fresh milk, she asked the Captain for it for me and says she will bring it till I am better. Latitude 43 – 40, Longitude 90 – 43, Distance 250 knots.
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Saturday 14th November
We had a much pleasanter night than we expected yesterday, and woke up feeling quite happy and merry. We started as soon as breakfast was over to pack our boxes, and that took us ever such a time, we packed up all except what we shall require for the short time we shall be here. I have wished many times we could let you know ...
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Saturday 14th November (continued)
how near to our journeys end we have arrived, but that unfortunately is impossible. They are going to have a grand supper in the saloon tonight instead of the ball intended, as the vessel rolls too much to allow them to dance. The Captain was in full dress, and also the Doctor, he did look nice, and all the passengers were dressed grandly. I never saw such a beautiful set out in all my life, the tables were grand, loaded down with good things. The supper is given by the ship’s owners, they have one every voyage, or a ball. Florrie and I went up to see the tables laid out, but I had quite sufficient with looking at them, I did not wish for anything, though there was every delicacy mentionable. Today we are only 450 knots from Cape Otway and if we have good weather a little longer, we shall soon behold our new country. This morning for the last time the sailors swilled the decks and they did make them white and clean, just as they were in the midst of it, the orders came for all hands on deck to down screw and shorter sail, they did not require telling twice and I can assure you the passengers put a hand too, as they knew that looked well for soon casting anchor, they have got the cable chain ready, Papa came down and said he was hungry for he had been letting down screw and shortening sail, now all we have to do is wait
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Saturday 14th November (continued)
as patiently as we can, and in due time, we will rid the ship and crew of our company, but it is time to close and turn in and try to sleep. Latitude 41 – 33, Longitude 128 – 54, Distance 277 knots.
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Monday November 16th 1874
Welcome Tidings. Land at last. Though first I will just mention that all day yesterday, especially at service time, we could not stand on deck without holding to something, and last night just at bed time, the vessel went as still and steady, Ma said it awoke her coming steady all on a sudden and she lit the lamp and sat up, eating some cakes and raisins Maggie had had sent her. I suppose we had got in a calmer sea. This morning a little after three o’clock, one of the passengers came down and called
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Monday November 16th 1874 (continued)
out land and lighthouse ahead, but he called out don’t get up – What an idea, to tell us to lay in bed when Australian shores were in sight, you may imagine with what light hearts we quickly dressed and went up on deck. Ma and I were the only females on deck, it was so early. With what feelings I first sighted my new country I cannot describe, suffice it is to say, they were of a mingled character, joy and sadness, first of all a feeling of sadness crept over me, as when I was out of sight of Australia I felt a kind of link still binding me to the dear ones I had left behind me in Old England, but this morning I knew that our journey was almost terminated and prayed that our new home might be as peaceful and happy as the one we had in Preston.
About 1⁄2 past 4 we saw the first Australian sunrise, first thing the sky was bathed in one mass of bright red and then changed to green and an endless variety of magnificent tints, presently the sun just appeared above the edge of the water but rapidly rose to its full compass, the sky is beautifully clear and pure, far different than in the manufacturing towns in Lancashire. It is Cape Otway we have sighted, all are up and bustling about by this time seven o’clock. The First Mate has just told me that we shall be at Melbourne at 5 o’clock
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Monday November 16th 1874 (continued)
this afternoon, they have put out the flags and signalled, so by this time they know in Melbourne that we are not far off. What a joyful meeting, the mail from home has passed, so we expect to have letters awaiting us, by this time it is a little after 10 o’clock on Sunday evening in England, we are now 9 hours and 40 minutes before Greenwich time. Ma is as lively as possible, though she says she is excited, and wondering whether our relatives will meet us or not. My diary is almost finished, I hope it will interest you, it has helped to keep me employed during the passage and many times I have turned to it when my thoughts would stray over the sea, and have written the account of the day’s proceedings when otherwise I should have begun to mope. It is a specimen of my descriptive powers, though in many things it does not do justice to what I have attempted to describe. Ponder and lament on my ignorance. The first wish Ma had when we sighted land was that you were with us, all our relatives and dear friends, but please God we shall see some of you some day if it be his pleasure, but now I must stop and prepare breakfast.
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Monday November 16th 1874 (continued)
Since I finished the last paragraph, Mr Pople asked me to come across and have breakfast with he and Mrs Pople, of course I accepted this invitation, then after breakfast we finished packing and then dressed in our clean costumes all ready for landing, the sea was as calm as a duck pond and the sun shone out brightly which made us all quite happy, we saw a small vessel ever such a way off and watched it with great interest, it contained the Pilot, when she got a little under 1⁄2 a mile, the Pilot put off in a small boat and rowed up to the side of the ship, didn’t we give him a hearty cheer of welcome, it was just a quarter to twelve when he stepped on board, we have between 4 and 5 hours sail now and then hail our new country. As the time draws near my feelings are indescribable and I am constantly wishing we could sight Sandridge Pier, at which place we are to land, the doctor came on board at 2 o’clock just as we were sailing through Port Phillip Heads, it was almost worth coming to Australia to see them, they are so fine and being such a clear day we can discern them thoroughly. We scarcely know each other in our grand dresses, as we are all dressed to go ashore, and Florrie and I are going to bid our ship companions farewell, for probably we may never
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Monday November 16th 1874 (continued)
see each other again, as many of them are going higher up the country than Melbourne and we have made many pleasant companions on board, as I am writing this I hear a shout on deck (Papa, Mamma, Willie and Maggie are on deck) that there is a steam tug coming out to meet us crowded with passengers, it is of no use, I must stop writing and go on deck, excitement is at boiling pitch with everybody and all are crowding on the spar. Papa has gone up the forecastle steps, I suppose to get a better view, all are expecting the tug to contain their friends, I do hope it will have some one on belonging to us. Mr and Mrs Pople are preparing tea for us, we are going to have a farewell cup of tea together, they are going on to Adelaide so don’t expect anyone here to meet them. 1⁄2 past 3 o’clock. The tug is close up to us, and such a crowd of eager faces pressed forward to catch the first glimpse of friends. Mamma says she cant see anyone she knows yet. We have had steam shut off, just as soon as I had left off waiting, Papa came rushing down the steps, his face lit up with joy, and called out Will Heasdale is here, and then we saw him and the first words he shouted were are all of you well, then we presented ourselves, when he saw us all he appeared satisfied and patiently waited his turn to step on board. Johny Macker was with
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Source: Museum Victoria / Author Ally Heathcote
Monday November 16th 1874 (continued)
him. Papa rushed at him as soon as he got on deck and then we took him below, and presently the Captain ordered steam on and now we are rapidly nearing Sandridge Pier where my Aunts are waiting for us, what a happy reunion, and my heart wells with gratitude to God for permitting us to see each other again. We have had a nice tea for the last time on board, and now we can see the Pier overcrowded with anxious friends patiently waiting for us to cast anchor. The fine day we have had so far has changed and we have every appearance of a squall coming on, but we don’t mind that at all, but are thinking of those we have yet to see. We are anchored now, 5 o’clock, and my Aunts are here. Ma was sitting below, as it was raining heavily, and all at once she jumped up and ran off, when I looked round I found her embracing her sisters, they welcomed us heartily to Melbourne and as soon as the rain has abated we intend going ashore. I can scarcely realise it but when I look round our cabin and see the groups of happy faces in all directions, and hear the sounds of joy and welcome from all parts of the ship, then I bless Providence and think it is worth all the trouble and inconveniences of ship life to have the joy of this hour, oh, if you were only here to share it with us. We are just going ashore, I am anxious to see the others now, so I must close.
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Page from Ally Heathcote's dairy, 1874
Source: Museum Victoria / Author Ally Heathcote
November 17th
After we left the boat we walked across the railway pier up to the station, we had first class tickets given us from the Ship Owners as our passage was paid up to Melbourne, we had to wait till a train came up and as soon as we had sat down, they came and locked us in, and off we steamed to Hobsons Bay Railway Station in Melbourne. As we sat in the train we could see along the bay all the ships at anchor, then a little farther we crossed the Yarra Yarra, and presently the train steamed into the station, then the guard came and let us out, when we got outside the station any amount of cabmen wanted to drive us to our destination, I expect they could see we were new comers. The first that amused me were the gutters, as there is no sewerage and the water is allowed to run in streams along the streets, and as it had been raining they were going along at a good speed, and looked like miniature Yarra’s. We walked along till we came to a cab stand and hired one and drove off through Melbourne into Brunswick St in Fitzroy, where Uncle Macker lives. We saw Uncle and cousins, and after they promised to come to Northcote at night, we drove off again.
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Page from Ally Heathcote's dairy, 1874
Source: Museum Victoria / Author Ally Heathcote
November 17th (continued)
Uncles house stands in the midst of a nice garden, and overlooks one of the most romantic places about Melbourne. When the cab stopped in the road, out ran my cousin Alice, and Jenny and Lizzie close behind her, they gave us an affectionate welcome and soon had a nice tea ready for us, what chatting and laughing there was you may be sure and we delivered all your messages. How nice it is to feel that we have got in a house at last and are not obliged to go to bed at ten, or sit in the dark, we stayed up till morning talking and then as is Uncles usual custom, we had a family prayer, and retired to bed and slept well I can assure you.
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