The Voyage of White Star Liner Belgic to Australia in 1912

Date: 27 Apr 1912 to 21 Jun 1912
Location: Australia

The steamship Belgic sailed from Liverpool on 27 April 1912 with skilled and unskilled workers for various Australian states.

ARTISANS FOR VICTORIA from The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) of Friday the 12th of April 1912, Page 7.
ARTISANS FOR VICTORIA
MR. WHITEHEAD'S MISSION.
Detailed information regarding artisans selected as suitable immigrants for this State is given by Mr. S. Whitehead, the Victorian officer at present in England, in his latest report to the Government.

Writing on 8th March, Mr. Whitehead states that up till when he had selected 558 artisans, of whom 265 were in the building trades, and there were also 60 plasterers. The remainder was made up as follows:— Fitters, 44; turners, 27; blacksmiths, 23; moulders, 26; boiler makers, 18; iron machinists, 13; cabinet makers, 24; chair makers, 9; upholsterers, 10; motor body builders, 11; wheelwrights, 7; wiremen and linemen, 18.

Of these artisans 115 were sailing by the Irishman. The majority of them were married men, and they were accompanied by their wives and families. The berths allowed for artisans in the steamer Ballarat (fixed to sail on 11th April) were almost all for men only. Twenty men had already been booked, and 55 others, whose families would follow, had been offered berths. Of the remaining married men 50 had been offered accommodation in the steamer Belgic, in which 130 berths had been made available. Mr. Whitehead added that he had lately visited Glasgow, Edinburgh and Leeds, and in these cities he had interviewed 700 applicants, of whom he had selected 240 as suitable to the needs of Australia.

ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS from The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) of Thursday the 18th of April 1912, Page 9.
THE BELGIC CONTINGENT. The Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration has received a cable from the Agent-General in England to the effect that the steamer Belgic, in which steamer 300 berths have been secured for State-assisted immigrants, is expected to leave Liverpool on April 27. The departure of this vessel was postponed on March 20 last owing to the coal strike in England. She is now expected to arrive at the Outer Harbor on or about June 10.

NEWS AND NOTES from the West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) of Wednesday the 1st of May 1912, page 6.
Immigration. - The Premier yesterday received a cablegram from the Agent-General to the effect that the S.S. Belgic sailed from Liverpool on Saturday last with 592 emigrants for Western Australia.

PEOPLING THE LAND. STEAMERS TO ARRIVE from The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) of Wednesday the 22nd of May 1912, Page 6.
By the steamer Belgic, about 600 immigrants will be brought to Victoria. There are a large number of farm labourers amongst the passengers, but it is not likely that they will be available before the middle of next month, as the coal strike in England upset the arrangements for the departure of the Belgic, and no definite news as to the steamer's movements has since been received at the Immigration Bureau.

NEWS AND NOTES from The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) of Friday the 31st of May 1912, Page 6.
The Belgic's Immigrants. -The White Star Liner Belgic is expected to arrive at Fremantle between June 7 and 9, bearing 536 immigrants for Western Australia. Three hundred and forty-eight new settlers are bound for Adelaide, and 493 for Melbourne. Two hundred and seventeen of the immigrants for this State are assisted passengers, and the passages of the remaining 369 were nominated.

THE BELGIC'S IMMIGRANTS from The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) of Wednesday the 12th of June 1912, Page 8.
THE BELGIC'S IMMIGRANTS.
585 FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
The White Star liner Belgic, with considerably over 1,000 immigrants on board, arrived from Liverpool yesterday morning and anchored in the Roads. Later in the day she was granted pratique, and made fast to the Quay.

The landing of the Western Australian immigrants was accomplished swiftly and methodically. Almost the whole length of the vessel along the wharf was divided by barriers, which excluded the crowd, into a space within which Mr. Crawcour, of the Fremantle Immigration Depot. and his staff, could carry out their work with the utmost despatch. At the gangway, before leaving the ship, the passengers presented their identification cards, and were then free to disembark and walk through the goods shed to the train which on the further side was waiting to convey them to the Immigration Home at Perth. The immigrants speak in the highest terms of the courtesy of the officials of the Immigration Bureau. Most of the assisted passengers have no fault to find with the manner in which the Government is ushering them into the sphere of their new labours.

One man yesterday voiced the opinion:-"They give us our passage almost free, our train fare, board and lodging, and our jobs. A man who grumbles at that would grumble at anything. I'm very well pleased with the way I've been treated."

One sturdy youth, a wire-splicer, who hailed from Dorset explained the fascination which Australia has for him. "I was mad, he said, mad about this country. I came out here a few years ago on the Powerful, and I made up my mind that I would come back. I think it's the finest country in the world."

Of the 585 souls for Western Australia, 217 are assisted passengers, and among them are 36 married couples. Forty-six are children under 12: there are 85 single men, and 14 single women, of whom five are domestic servants. The passages of 369 were nominated Among the nominated passengers there were 24 married couples 181 children under 18. 32 single men. 41 single women and 67 wives coming to join their husbands.

Captain W. J. P. Thornton states that the immigrants are of a good stamp, and quite equal to if not better than those which the Belgic carried on her last trip. The ship met with bad weather all the way from Liverpool. but the only loss during the voyage was the death of one infant boy. The Belgic carries 348 new settlers for Adelaide and 493 for Melbourne.

SEEKING NEW HOMES from the Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912) of Tuesday the 18th of June 1912, Page 2.
SEEKING NEW HOMES.
Immigrants by the Belgic - A Large Contingent.
Immigration to South Australia under the Government nomination scheme has assumed fairly large proportions this year. Already hundreds have reached the State from the old land, and hundreds more have been waiting to come, but have been delayed by labour upheavals in London and other parts of England, which necessitated a readjustment of steamer's sailing dates. This was the case with the White Star liner Belgic, which arrived at the Outer Harbour on Monday evening with 339 immigrants for South Australia in addition to 58 who left old associations without Assistance to begin life afresh in a new land; and 497 for Victoria!

It was somewhat unfortunate for friends of the new arrivals that the Belgic made such a slow passage from Fremantle. More than six days were occupied in the trip across the Bight, and although the vessel berthed at the wharf at 5.30 p.m. on Monday, darkness had set in before the gangway was lowered and friends and relatives were able to meet one another. Some had journeyed to the Outer Harbour by the first morning train, expecting to see the Belgic moored to the wharf, and quite a number of these remained at the harbour throughout the day. No wonder they were tired out by nightfall, yet spirits revived amazingly when at last the liner, with her bulwarks crowded almost from stem to stern, was warped in. The scene is becoming familiar enough to those whose duty takes them to the quayside, but it always presents a strong human interest element. There is the tender enquiry by husband for the wife, the father for the child, and the heartfelt joy for the successful termination of a long voyage.

The Belgic was met at the Semaphore anchorage by Mr. D. B. Davidson (boarding officer for the Immigration Department). Pratique had been granted at Fremantle, where nearly 600 immigrants had landed, and as there had been no outbreak of sickness since, medical inspection was dispensed with. No time was therefore lost by the pilot in shaping a course for the harbour. On the way thither Mr. Davidson had interviewed the whole of the South Australian immigrants, and provided them with information in regard to their immediate necessities. Of the 339 nominated passengers, 23 are domestics. These journeyed from Liverpool under the care of Mrs. H. Lindsay (matron), who gave a satisfactory account of the capabilities of the girls. Then escorted them to Adelaide during the evening, and placed them in charge of Mrs. Moore (lady assistant for domestic helpers), at the Exhibition Building, where they will be housed until allotted. A large proportion of those who landed from the Belgic are the wives and families of men who have been resident in South Australia for the past 12 months or two years. One family claimed nine children, another seven, while five was not uncommon. Manv of these family groups will join the breadwinner in the country, and on the west coast. The men among the newcomers comprise bricklayers, cabinet and furniture makers, so that as a class they should become useful citizens of the State. The Railway Department sent a special train to meet the steamer, and this left the harbour at about 7.30. In the majority of cases the handling of personal baggage, except for immediate use, was left until this morning.

The immigrants destined for Victoria were met at the Outer Harbour by Messrs. Dooley and Thompson (of the Victorian Immigration Department) and these gentlemen will travel on the steamer to Melbourne. Those for the sister State comprise nominated, assisted, and land delegation settlers.

Except for three or four days heavy weather after leaving Capetown, the Belgic had a splendid run. Capt: Thornton reported on arrival having left Liverpool on April 27 and Capetown on May 22. Fine conditions prevailed to the Cape, but just after departure, the vessel ran into a gale. During its continuance damage was done to gangways by enormous seas, and so violent did these become that passengers were prohibited from appearing on deck for 72 hours. Throughout the health of those on board remained remarkably good. Just before reaching Fremantle a child died from pneumonia, and there were some isolated cases of chickenpox. The Belgic will resume the voyage to Melbourne this afternoon.

NEW SETTLERS from The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) of Saturday the 22nd of June 1912, Page 13.
NEW SETTLERS.
ARRIVALS BY STEAMER BELGIC.
About a thousand persons gathered at Victoria Dock yesterday to witness the arrival of the White Star immigrant steamer Belgic, but the Immigration officers were assisted by the police and port officials to such an extent that there was none of the usual confusion at the disembarkation. Altogether 489 immigrants to this State were landed. They consisted mostly of family parties. The wives and families of the thirty-two artisans which arrived totalled 91 souls, whilst 27 land seekers and farm laborers brought women and children, numbering 43 souls. The remainder of the assisted immigrants to Victoria were nominated passengers.

When the vessel arrived, six children were suffering from chicken pox, but, as they and their mothers, had been isolated and had friends in Melbourne with whom to stay. Dr. Ham. the State medical officer, decided that there would he no necessity to retain the children on the Belgic.

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Sources

• ARTISANS FOR VICTORIA from The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) of Friday the 12th of April 1912, Page 7 at: [1]
• ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS from The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) of Thursday the 18th of April 1912, Page 9 at: [2]
• NEWS AND NOTES from The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) of Wednesday the 1st of May 1912, Page 6 at [3]
• PEOPLING THE LAND. STEAMERS TO ARRIVE from The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) of Wednesday the 22nd of May 1912, Page 6 at: [4]
• NEWS AND NOTES from The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) of Friday the 31st of May 1912, Page 6 at: [5]
• THE BELGIC'S IMMIGRANTS from The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) of Wednesday the 12th of June 1912, Page 8 at: [6]
• SEEKING NEW HOMES from the Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912) of Tuesday the 18th of June 1912, Page 2 at: [7]
• NEW SETTLERS from The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) of Saturday the 22nd of June 1912, Page 13 at: [8]