RARE 1862 AUSTRALIAN GOLD RUSH LETTER REGARDING ECONOMIC DECLINE AND LABOR SHORTAGES IN GEELONG

Autograph letter signed by John Dachertz. Geelong, [Victoria, Australia], 21 July 1862. 6 pages, 8vo.

A revealing letter written by an American family living in Geelong, Australia. They almost certainly emigrated in response to the 1850s Gold Rush, when the population of Geelong grew to over 23,000 following the discovery of gold in nearby Ballarat.

Writing home, they relate a recent illness affecting their children. They also write in detail about the current economic situation in Geelong: “He gets on very well at school. It is very expensive to educate children in this country we pay one pound per quarter for John & one shilling each per week for Sessie & James. I have never seen this country in a worse condition than it is at present. Previsions are also very high + labour very scarce but we have reason to thank God for his goodness unto us. I am still in the same situation altho my salary is not so large as it was formerly. Property has fallen in value very much lately...The gold mines is not turning out...well now as formerly but still.. are many doing very well yet...our best season is coming on I hope.”

He continues with a discussion of domestic labor: “The only class of people in this place that are still well of is women servants their wages still keep high some get as high as £40 per year. Others from £20 and upwards in fact a through good servant can get what she asks. Good servants are very scarce now & very independent they know their value the most that comes out here are Irish girls + many of them good for nothing but spending their money on fine clothes. the first that they ever had to wear. We have heard no news from the dear old country for a long time.”

A detailed account of life in an Australian gold mining community.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs]

Loss to leaf wiht pages 5 & 6.