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IMMIGRATION DEPOT

Other Names PORT ALBERT IMMIGRATION DEPOT ,  IMMIGRATION DEPOT PORT ALBERT Location 6 DENISON STREET PORT ALBERT, WELLINGTON SHIRE File Number 601815 Level Registered

[1/2] IMMIGRATION DEPOT SOHE 2008 [2/2] 1 former immigration depot

Statement of Significance

From the early 1840s when Gippsland first opened up to pastoral settlement labour supply had always been a problem. With relatively rapid development following the Omeo gold rushes, this labour shortage changed in type - pastoralist station hands were notas much in demand as agricultural workers and single women. The people of the district were more than anxious to welcome the immigrants. A public meeting at the Tarraville court house on 6.1.1857 passed the following motion "that as the only accommodation now existing in the district for immigrants is a rough slab hut destitute of every convenience and comfort, erected some years ago at a cost of 40 pounds, and situated four miles from the port, it is, in the opinion of this meeting, highly desirable that a suitable depot be erected at Port Albert, the place of arrival". (Gippsland guardian 9.1.1857). The local MLA, James Davis, acted on this resolution and in February 1857 tenders were called for building materials for the immigration barracks - 93,000 bricks and 7,500 ft. of blue gum plank 6"x8". Mckenzie & Co. of Port Albert won the tender at three pounds five shillings per 1000 bricks. (Gippsland guardian 13.1.1857).

While the depot was under construction the flood of immigrants continued and Port Albert received some direct from England. One such group of one hundred and eleven souls arrived at Port Phillip heads on 7.6.1857 per the "Black
Eagle" from Liverpool, were transferred on the government steam sloop "Victoria" to the Port Albert heads, andfrom there they were transferred to the Port Albert steam navigation company's ship "Oberon" for the last leg of the trip to Port Albert township. Temporary quarters were provided in the iron store and two tents (government gazette 18.7.1857). This accommodation was subject to some criticism: "... The iron store at Port Albert ... A more miserable place scarcely exists at this stage of the year - without fire place, wood for fuel and with the sea within a few feet of the building, the immigrants after their transhipment, like so many bales of goods, will be able vividly to depict the comforts of Port Albert". (Government Gazette 24/7/1857).

Three more groups of immigrants arrived at Port Albert before the end of 1857. At this stage it was noted that Henry Charlesworth, an immigrant bricklayer on a wage of 8/- per day wet or dry weather, was employed by Mr. Lowe of Port Albert on building the new immigration depot, wanted a rise of 10/- per day. This would suggest that the immigration depot was not completed until 1858, the year in which no arrivals were recorded. The Gippsland guardian of 10 June 1859 advised that twelve married couples, twenty-eight single females and one single male ("Ex Herald" presumably meaning that he had previously worked on the newspaper) were now awaiting service at the immigration barracks, Palmerston. Between the years 1860 and 1865, twelve separate contingents, being mostly single females, arrived. This contributed to the Sale newspapers report of the "extensive immigration barracks ... which looks more like a convent than anything else - all that is merely required in a temporary building where a few girls and married couples may get a few nights lodging as they will be engaged soon after that." (Gippsland Times 6/11/1863). Only two contingents of immigrants are recorded in local newspapers from 1865 to 1870 so it seems that the immigration barracks at Palmerston became functionally redundant - an official "white elephant".

The building was used intermittently until the 1880s to house government officers from other departments which had sub-barracks in the district. In 1886 when the second building used to house the police officers was built on an adjacent site, it was noted that the former immigration barracks was used as a corn store.

The barracks reflect the importance of imported labour to the development of Gippsland in the mid-nineteenth century. The building illustrates the government role in local development - Palmerston was a government township established in 1857 to break the monopoly control held by the merchants Turnbull bros. Over the 180 acres around the port. The building as it stands today is a two roomed brick structure with gable ends. There is no floor or ceiling, the plaster is coming off the walls and the roof is supported by a simple timber truss system.