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George Clark Autobiography - Part Two

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Date: 4 Mar 1852 to Jan 1988
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australiamap
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George Clark Autobiography

Part One 'Incidence and Circumstances that, I, George Clark can remember from childhood and on through life'.

Part Two

I , G. C.'s ACCOUNT OF MY CIRCUMSTANCES & PROCEDURE AFTER ARRIVING IN VICTORIA , AUSTRALIA , ON THE 4th MARCH 1852 , WITH MY FAMILY BY THE SHIP ‘MARTIN LUTHER’ , CAPTAIN RENNIE , COMMANDER.

(George had grown tired of his profession and the lure of gold and prosperity must have been an irresistible drive to uproot his family with the news of Victorian gold discoveries reaching England only a few months before. The loss of three young infants over the previous few years must have also had a profound effect on the families urge to start afresh. Prior to departure the Clark’s lived at 4 Great Hampden Street, Liverpool.

The family of eight, George 43yrs and Mary 41yrs, and six children, George Cotton 15yrs, John James 13yrs, Maria Morton 11yrs, William Allison 9yrs, Elizabeth Cotton 6yrs, Georgina 4mths. And Mary’s nephew, Henry Jabez Unwin, 18yrs, made a total of nine who were embarking on the venture of a lifetime.

Sailed on the ‘Martin Luther’. Departed England 17 Nov 1851 Duration of voyage 124days. Arrived Port Phillip Bay 4 Mar 1852.

George Ried a passenger, 7yrs at the time, went on to become Premier of N.S.W. and Prime Minister of Australia.
The ‘Martin Luther’ later carried 18 female convicts to Van Diemen’s Land.)


My family consisted of nine in all including Henry Unwin, my wifes nephew. The passage money for all was 145 pounds paid in Liverpool where we sailed from on the seventeenth of November 1851, so was a hundred and twenty-four days on the voyage, calling in at the Cape of Good Hope for a supply of provisions, being run short of by the extravagance of many of the passengers and the mate who gave out rations. He had made a great mistake before being found out of giving double quantities of the meat soups. He also allowed some of the passengers to use the fresh water for washing – which consequently we run short of – for other purposes.

We got a supply at the Cape, for which we was thankful, and after a tolerable pleasant journey passed through the Port Phillip heads in full sail without a pilot on Saturday night, seventh of March 1852 (was actually the sixth). Sailed up the bay on Sunday morning and anchored a distance from shore. I must not omit to mention some of the second and third class passengers had threatened to have the captain up for leaving England in short supply of what was necessary for such a voyage – and those was the very ones who had been so extravagant both with the food and water for over two thirds of the passage. But we managed to shame them out of doing so as they threatened, for a kinder and better captain no-one could have desired, doing everything he possibly could to make all in the ship comfortable. When he left Liverpool had abundance of everything for the whole voyage, had there been no mistakes in serving it out, and the passengers been careful and thoughtful of where they was – no shops to run into for a supply.

Monday morning ninth of March I left the ship for Melbourne, landed at Sandridge (now Port Melbourne) and made the best of my way to look for a house to take my family to, and so paced about the city until I was tired out and disheartened without any success. So then went round the subburbs and there with little success returned to the city and started again hoping for better luck, taking first one direction and then another. Fortunately saw a man in his shirtsleeves standing against a building – a shop front with shutters up. I found afterwards it was Little Lonsdale Street. I made up to the man in a pitiful way, asked him if he could tell me of any place I could take my family to from the ship, that I had been trying for hours and not succeeding in finding any place at all, only in hotels where they wanted five pounds a week for one room. This kind man just thought for a moment or two and said – Well my mate is leaving his house today, he has got notice that he must pay 20/6 a week. From 8/6 it was rose and he is leaving rather than pay the rent. I will go with you to ascertain if it is let. So away we went and found him taking away his furniture. He told us it was not let, so this kind man took me to the landlord who questioned me about my family – how many of us, and I told him exactly how many of us.

As he thought the family too large for so small a cottage – three bedrooms, he should not decide then. I might call next day, so staid on shore that night at the Rainbow Hotel, but did not get one minutes sleep for the quantity of bugs there was. Was glad to get out of the room. So soon as I found the way out in the morning, called upon the landlord at the time appointed where he asked further as to my being able to pay the rent, and then not decide to let the cottage to me in consequence of my family being so many, but would still take another day to consider it, and that I might call again the next day at one o’clock. So went on board the ship that night to my family and left again the next morning to be there at the landlords house at the time he had appointed to see me, and was there at that time. Whilst waiting in the hall, could see in the dining room the table laid out for dinner and partly served up, and just before I had seen him, down came the ceiling covering the table and destroying most of that which was apon it – just as the landlord was coming into the hall. Without many words he said I should have the cottage at 20/6 a week, and to pay a month down in advance, which I did gladly on his giving me the key, and returned to the ship.

On the next day, Thursday the seventeenth, got my family and all our luggage on shore, which cost two and a half pounds from wharf to cottage in Stephen Street (?Yarraville) – making ourselves as comfortable as we could in all the varied circumstances, having no other means of sleeping; only on our boxes. But we had plenty of blankets with us, so managed pretty well for a while in that way, using the smaller boxes for to sit apon, one box apon another as a table in the day. There being a good oven in the kitchen, the next day had a leg of mutton roasted – the first fresh meat we had tasted for a long time. The leg cost 6d. per pound, and we enjoyed it very much, but potatoes was 4d. a pound, and bread 5/- 1b, dearer than that afterwards. Gave 20/- a barrel for water, and every thing else accordingly. On landing had about 500 pounds and goods for sale about 150 pounds worth.

At the end of April went to the diggings like others to try for gold, but got none. Had a very rough journey up, as there had been a good deal of rain a day or two before. I went by coach. George, Mr Parsons and Mr Moor that was the passengers with us on the ‘Martin Luther’ went up a fortnight before. I taking a dray loaded with requisites on the diggings – tents, also a large box with articles I had to sell, most of which did dispose of for very good profit. Some guns that I bought in Sheffield at from 35/- to 40/- got 8-10 pounds for, some other articles in like manner I sold. Was only in the diggings six weeks and had sunk three holes from ten to twenty feet, and not getting any gold we all got tired, so came to the conclusion to sell the tent and utensils and return to Melbourne, which we did, giving up the holes we had sunk to some sailors from the ‘Martin Luther’, and was told afterwards that they got a lot of gold out of two of the holes by sinking much deeper than we had done. One of them we knew had returned to England with 600 pounds another 400 pounds.

On returning from the diggings by coach had several creeks to cross and they was so high and the currants so strong, the coach and horses was all washed down the stream. The passengers had gone over first in a boat safely, but was unfortunate in losing what we had left in the coach. Had to walk the remainder of the way to Melbourne – about sixteen miles. On arrival found everything very high in price except meat – eggs 1/- each, butter 5/- lb., bacon 2/6 lb., milk 1/- pint, cabbages 2/6 each, sugar 10d. lb., all kind of fruit very dear, and rents going up. The cottage I took in March at 20/6 a week I got notice to quit or pay 2.20 pound a week. In August, two months afterwards, the same cottage was rose to 4 pound a week, and a little while after that to 6 pound. On getting notice of the rise in rent, started to go to the landlord to try to get a lower rent then he had fixed by offering to take a lease, but fortunately on my way there in Latrobe Street saw a bill in the window, this house to let – a two storey house, a room each side of the door, first and second story with cellars. I knocked at the door; the door was opened by a young woman. I said what is the rent of this house? A man in bed called out 120 pound a year. I stepped in and saw it was in a filthy state, asked if they would have it cleaned down, he said no, would do nothing to it. I might have it for two or three years at 120 pound take it as it is. He the owner was drunk in bed. I went back and took mother to look at the house. She thought as I did, it would be much better than the cottage we were in, being so much larger, that something could be done with it, and the rent not quite so much as where we was. So at once arranged to go with the owner to his lawyer next morning at ten o’clock which we did, and the agreement made out and signed, each of us paying one pound ten, and I paying one quarters rent in advance, received the keys and set to work the following day to get it cleaned down and papered, fortunately for the owners.

I had the lease made out for only two years, as he had supposed to be able to get a cottage that would suit him for about ten shillings a week but to his great surprise could not, even so small under 30/- a week and upwards. His family was in a great way having to let their house of six rooms for so low a rent as it afterwards proved, as in a week or two after we was in would have let it for six pound a week, and he the owner had to put up with a tent in a friends yard for some time until was uncomfortable and came to ask me permission to fix a tent in our backyard. Of course I could not refuse him under such circumstance, though an unpleasant affair having them on the premises, which they was for about eighteen months.

There was the owner of the house, wife, son, and two daughters grown up. The father and son was at that time earning together 21 pound a week, they was stone-masons and spent it all every week eating and drinking. Good living they would have, supposing such good wages was going to last all their life long, but unfortunately found out their mistake and had to suffer for it afterwards. After getting the house ready to go into got our goods what we had removed by the time the notice was due. The cellars I found very dry and well lighted so at once got a board put up for the storage of immigrants luggage, and very soon got a quantity in, making from three to four pound a week. Had to get chairs, tables, and bedsteads, and many other articles of house-hold requisites we had managed without previously, everything being very high in price, costing about six pound per week to keep house besides rent, so let the parlour off which reduced expenses some what. Fortunately J.James was bringing in what was a great help, as schooling was very expensive

I hunted a little, buying and selling, which was some help towards the expences, as there was nothing else I could turn my hand to. Sit at my trade I could not, tried it for a while but was obliged to give it up. I never thought to follow it after getting out to Australia. I had had enough of it in England before we left there, and made up my mind to do anything that would pay best, rather than go to follow my trade after leaving England. Even if it was only to do menial work – even to fill dung carts - that was my feeling on leaving. Considering all things, we managed pretty well and kept up our spirits under it all.

Being aware that two years would soon be passed over and would need be provided with some other house to go to the end of the two year lease, I had bought a piece of land near Brighton. But it was considered too far from Melbourne for my family to expect to live, so sold it again at a good profit and bought a piece in Collingwood. Had two cottages of five rooms each put on it and let them at 35/- a week each. After receiving the rents for eighteen months and finding the situation not a suitable one for to take my family, I sold them – and as it proved, just in the nick of time – for 265 pounds more than the cost me.

Very soon after, the man who built them had put up two for himself – and exactly the same – and tried to sell them very soon after and could not get for his as much as mine had cost. That kind of property had gone down too much. The builder was the partie who got me the customer for mine, and so soon after could not get a customer for his own near the price – rents went down so much for that kind of property so situate.

I had previous to selling these cottages bought fifty feet of land in Johnson Street for 150 pounds, allotments at Williamstown for 41.16 pounds, two allotments near Brighton in Gypsy Village for 30 pounds, them other allotments at Clifton near Little Eltham for 32.5 pounds. Afterwards in South Braybrook for 17.16 pounds betwixt March 1852 and 1853. In October 1853 commenced to build in Johnson Street Collingwood when materials and labour was very high, and after, conteded with heavy expences.

Up to the time had over 800 pounds in cash, besides the different allotments of land all paid for, not owing a shilling to anyone when building commenced. Foundations was laid for two shops, supposing to be able to have the two tenements put up together, but soon found out it could not be done at the price of material and labour, so had only the one proceeded with and had to borrow from the building society 400 pounds and after the 800 pounds was spent, so that there was a heavy rent to pay instead of being rent free as was supposed before commencing to build. I was having to pay monthly 10.10 pounds for the loan of the 400 pounds for nearly six years, and house expences at the rate of 24 pounds per month or more. I had some immigrants luggage removed to Collingwood when left Latrobe Street on 17 March 1854 and got little for keeping them in store. Diggers got worse off and was not able to pay storage. Had no fresh ones after the first eighteen months. Had several of the boxes left on my hands never fetched: advertised them for a certain time and then had them opened, but found nothing in them that would fetch anything as the best things had been taken out when the owners had called to pay something towards the storage due, and left only what was destroyed by moths; of no use to them, or what they could do without.

Finding that I could not let the store to advantage opened it as a grocery, but did not make much out of that – about two to three pound a week for nearly two years then the business fell off through the street being cut down – the wet weather at the time people was unable to get into the shop for the wet clay. Just then Smith Street was going ahead, drawing the people there, so it was considered the best to give the grocery up. We had then been in Collingwood over three years.

My family got tired of Collingwood, wanting to be nearer Melbourne and more convenient to James office, so was persuaded to buy a piece of land in Drummond Street, Carlton – twentyfour foot frontage and gave 277.40 pounds for it. Had to borrow from the building society money to build the house. Cost before being finished so as to be fit for to go into was over 800 pounds, which I could not have undertaken only for the help James gave. He had previously promised before the building was commenced to help me to meet the monthly payments to the building society which was 20 pounds a month. Together with the Collingwood building society which had to run five or six years, payment every month was heavy, and could not have been met only as James gave me a certain sum every month; for everything was very dear. Nothing was coming in at that time but the rent of the house in Collingwood and what I made by collecting and buying and selling different articles that I could make a little by, and so managed to keep all things pretty well strait.

We went to Drummond Street in July 1857, and then had many different articles of furniture to buy, being short of for the larger house. In February 1858 John James went to England and was away nine months; during that time was without his help. Previous to his going away arrangements had been come to by the Collingwood Building Society to wind up, for the borrowers to pay down a certain sum per share and the investors to receive a certain sum per share, and so wind up the society. My amount came to over 200 pounds to pay, and as James was going to England, required some cash together with interest and insurance and some money to be spent on the Collingwood property.

It was arranged that I should get 400 pounds on the Collingwood house, paying off the 200 pound – getting that mortgage was expensive – and sent to James whilst he was away three bank drafts amounting in all to 164 pounds. During the time he was away had the parlour and bedroom let, which was a great help towards the house expences, which was heavy. Besides the money sent to James in England, there was 47 pounds spent on the Colloingwood property before it would be let to any advantage, on the south side, as the rain beat though the joints and that cost 7 pound, and some furniture to buy, together with taxes 20 pounds.

Interest on borrowed money was 24 pound, firewood that year cost 18 pound, housekeeping to end of October 48 pounds, clothing 22 pounds. All these expences amount to over 150 pounds for the house during the time James was away. Then after he was back, to the end of December paid taxes 2 pound. For shoes 4 pound. Housekeeping 22 pound, wine bill 8 pound. Other expences both in Drummond Street and Johnson Street 25 pound, making total expences in that year, besides the sums sent to England 425 pound. The lawyers expences that year was 22 pound. There was the interest on the 400 pound to pay, besides the Building Society for Drummond Street property. In 1859 the expences ran very high including housekeeping, servants wages, taxes, schooling, insurances, interest on building money, clothing, together with some articles of furniture and various expences about the house in improved alterations. In all was 453 pound for the year 1859.

James reduced his money to the house and for all help in 1859, then 25 pound a month. (This reduced until ) In 1866 he allowed 5 pound a month up to July when he married, after that – no more. To the time George was married I received from him at the rate of 25/6 a week, and for only the weeks he was earning. I had opened an account at the bank. My earnings by collecting enabled me to meet the deficiencies on the monthly account, the expences still very heavy with one thing and another after George and James was married. From that year to the remaining five or six years afterwards that we remained in Carlton it was all I could do to meet all the expences from year to year out of the income.

My collecting improved a great deal or I should not have been able, as there was many and varied expences one way or the other that could not be calculated apon right away. Up to the time we went to Richmond to live, then to Williamstown, and from there to Carlton again for eleven years up to the time of dear mothers death, had always been a great struggle to keep things clear, always striving to have a little cash before hand in the bank. Had 60 pound odd at the time poor mother took to her bed – that was October 1883 – three months before her death. In the interim betwixt there and leaving for Sydney, had paid funeral and all other expences, the grave covering over with slabs and the lettering in the tomb, and doctors and nurses expences.

After having the household effects sold, 27 pound was put in the Federal Bank to Elizabeths account, and for leaving for Sydney after paying passage money, I had left in the Metropolitan Building Society only 10 pound odd. Had received from James towards the extra expences in all 19 pound in November 1883, 18 pound in May 1864, making total 37 pound that is towards all expences from October 1983 to January 1984, extras such as doctors, nurse, funeral, and grave expences amounting to 80 pound. Whilst in Sydney betwixt May 1884 and December 1886 Allison had 30 pound, in January 1987, 27 pound, in January 1888, 3 pound.





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