This post is part of my A to Z Challenge series on migration, in this post, I delve into the journey of one young woman who travelled aboard 'Bride Ships' to Australia.
In the late 19th century, the British government sought to address the gender imbalance in its Australian colonies by sponsoring the migration of young women. These ships, colloquially known as "Bride Ships," transported single women to Australia under government-backed schemes. My great-grandmother, Martha Sarah Ellis aged 19, was one such migrant, making her journey alongside her younger sister, Kate Ellis aged 17, aboard the S.S. Nairnshire, which arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia, on October 8, 1889.
The S.S. Nairnshire and the 1889 Dock Strike
Before leaving, the two sisters spent two nights in the Westminster house, which had been designed to prepare them for their six-week journey. Where they learnt how to live in tight quarters and stow all their things neatly. They also met Miss Monk who was in charge of the 48 female domestic servants for the first time, the supervisor for the journey, who look after the girls well fare and guard their reputations during the journey.(as described in The Bride Ships by Elisabeth Tooker).
The Nairnshire set sail from England on August 21, 1889, just managing to escape the chaos of a massive dockworkers' strike that had paralysed London's shipping industry. The strike involved over 40,000 workers and threatened to delay vessels indefinitely. One can only imagine the sense of urgency and relief among the passengers as they embarked amidst such turmoil.
Life Aboard the Bride Ship
Martha and Kate were among 48 domestic servants travelling in steerage, all under the supervision of Miss Monk, a matron appointed to oversee their welfare.i While saloon passengers had spacious accommodations, servant girls endured cramped quarters in steerage.
Despite the challenges, life aboard the Nairnshire was not without its diversions. During fair weather, the young women gathered on deck, singing songs and reminiscing about home. Miss Monk provided reading materials, sewing supplies, and organised group activities to keep morale high. This structured environment was not just for comfort but also to ensure the women arrived with their reputations intact, an essential factor for securing employment in Australia.
The Voyage and Its Trials
To avoid the Red Sea's extreme heat, the Nairnshire took a southern route via Las Palmas and Cape Town. While the first leg of the voyage was relatively pleasant, the final stretch saw stormy weather, adding to the hardships of ship life.ii After 43 days at sea, the Nairnshire finally reached Fremantle in the evening of October 8, 1889.
A Cold Reception in Fremantle
The women were not immediately permitted to disembark. When they finally stepped onto Australian soil the next morning, they were met not with a warm welcome, but with a crowd of men eager to scrutinise them like "prize cattle."iii Accounts from similar voyages describe how the women were marched to the immigration depot under police escort—hardly the most encouraging beginning to their new lives.
One immigrant later recalled:
"On the wharf a crowd of men stood waiting to stare at us... Then a gruff official ordered us to get into order, and off we were marched in charge of a couple of policemen, like prisoners."iv
The expectation was that these young women would quickly secure employment as domestic servants, and many were hired within days. While some found stable positions and eventual marriages, others faced harsh working conditions, unfamiliar customs, and social scrutiny.
Life After Arrival
Martha’s early experiences in Australia were not without challenges. By May 1890, she was working as a domestic servant but found herself in trouble when she and some friends were accused of assault.v The court described her as one of two 'young domestic servants of respectable appearance, but she was ultimately found guilty. It is quite possible that this incident led to her losing her position.
However, by the end of 1890, she had secured work at the Colonial Hospital in Perth. Her employment there was short-lived, as records indicate she was discharged sometime after December 21, possibly in early 1891.vi Not long after this, Martha moved to Victoria, setting the course for the next chapter of her life.
Stepping into an uncertain new world
The arrival of women like Martha and Kate Ellis played a crucial role in shaping early Australian society. Their journey was not just a physical migration but a leap into an unknown future, one filled with both opportunity and hardship. While the bride ships promised a better life, for many, they also marked the beginning of a difficult adjustment to a land that was not always welcoming.
As I reflect on my great-grandmother’s story, I wonder what must have been going through her mind as she took those first steps onto Fremantle’s shores. Was she hopeful? Anxious? Did she feel she had made the right decision? While the details of her thoughts remain a mystery, her journey—and the journey of so many women like her—remains an integral part of my family's migration history to Australia.
Join Me on This Journey
This post is part of my 2025 Blogging from A to Z Challenge, where I explore my family's migration history, one letter at a time. Stay tuned as we continue uncovering the stories of those who crossed oceans in search of a new life! Tomorrow, “O” will focus on the Overland travel with small children in the 1850s.
📅 Timeline: Voyage of the s.s. Nairnshire, 1889
Aug 14 – Voyage announced: new steamer Nairnshire scheduled to leave London for Fremantle, Melbourne & Sydney¹
Aug 17–18 – Departure confirmed for mid-August via Cape Town, offering excellent passenger accommodation²
Aug 21 – Sails from Gravesend, London, with 48 female domestic servants and saloon passengers aboard³
Aug 23 – sailed just before the dock labourers, stevedores strike.⁴
Aug 23 – WA Immigration Board advertises expected arrival of domestic servants by late September⁵
Aug 28 – Departs Las Palmas, Canary Islands, after coaling stop⁶
Sep 11 – Fremantle arrival forecast for early October; full passenger list published⁷
Oct 5 – Reaches Fremantle after 43-day voyage via Cape Town8
📚 Time Line References
ENGLISH SHIPPING NEWS. (1889, August 14). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved April 12, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3127711 [Explanation: Earliest notice of the planned voyage from London to WA]
ENGLISH SHIPPING NEWS. (1889, August 17). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved April 12, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3127777 [Explanation: Confirms route and expected departure range]
ENGLISH SHIPPING NEWS. (1889, September 24). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved April 12, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3128686. [Explanation: Details final departure and passenger list]
SHIPPING. (1889, September 25). The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901), p. 6. Retrieved April 12, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66089423 [Explanation: Confirming the chaos of a massive dockworkers' strike]
BOARD OF IMMIGRATION OFFICE NOTICE. (1889, August 23). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved April 12, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3127925. [Explanation: Announcement of expected immigration group]
ENGLISH SHIPPING NEWS. (1889, October 5). Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), p. 14. Retrieved April 12, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32726031 [Explanation: Marks progress across Atlantic; next leg of journey begins]
ENGLISH SHIPPING NEWS. (1889, September 11). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved April 12, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3128366 [Explanation: Provides forecasted arrival and passenger manifest]
SHIPPING REPORTS. (1889, October 29). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved April 12, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8565779 [Explanation: Captain’s report confirms date, conditions, and Fremantle arrival.]
📚 Further Reading
🔗 S.S. Nairnshire Voyage of 1889 – TROVE List A curated collection of newspaper articles from Trove relating to the s.s. Nairnshire’s 1889 voyage from London to Western Australia. This list includes shipping notices, passenger arrivals, court references, and shipping reports that help trace the ship’s journey in real-time through historical sources. Includes real-time shipping notices and passenger lists that trace the ship's journey.
🔗 Female Immigrants.1890s – TROVE List A curated collection of newspaper articles from Trove relating to the Female Immigrants arriving in Western Australia during the 1890s.
🔗 Ship Specifications – s.s. Nairnshire (1889) on WikiTree
A detailed breakdown of the Nairnshire’s design and engineering, including its refrigeration system, triple-expansion engine, and capacity for carrying frozen meat. Ideal for readers interested in maritime history or the shipbuilding context of the late 19th century.📘 Tooker, Elisabeth; Hesperian Press; Western Australian History Foundation (1992).
The Bride Ships: Experiences of Immigrants Arriving in Western Australia 1849–1889. Hesperian Press, Carlisle, WA. A compelling overview of the experiences of women—especially domestic servants—who arrived in Western Australia during the peak decades of assisted migration.📘 Coralie Canot. The Undesirable Spinster: The Organised Emigration of British Single Women, 1851-1914. Literature. 2013, p.34
📰 Notes from London. (1899, December 14). Kalgoorlie Western Argus, p. 12
This newspaper article offers a general description of the typical journey for servant girls travelling under a matron like Mrs. Monk. It helps paint a picture of what life was like for the women in steerage—many of whom were hoping for work and stability in a new colony.
Blog Post Meta Data:
The URL for this post is https://ancestralresearchjournal.blogspot.com/2025/04/m-is-for-matrimonial-opportunities.html originally published on 15 April 2025
Author 2025, Sandra Williamson
Footnotes:
i 'Notes from London.', Kalgoorlie Western Argus, 14 December 1899, p. 12. , [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32203258 , viewed 11 Feb 2017]
ii 'SHIPPING REPORTS. THE S.S NAIRNSHIRE', The Argus, 29 October 1889, p. 9, Col.8. , [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8565779, viewed 10 Feb 2017]
iii 'THE GOLDEN WEST.', The Inquirer and Commercial News, 29 May 1896, p. 12. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66532077, viewed 11 Feb 2017]
iv 'NEWS AND NOTES.', The West Australian, 27 May 1896, p. 4, Col.8, [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3090945, viewed 11 Feb 2017]
v 1890 'NEWS AND NOTES.', The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), 20 May, p. 3. , viewed 16 Mar 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3134319
vi CHARGES AGAINST THE LATE MATRON OF THE COLONIAL HOSPITAL. 3 March 1891, The West Australian, p. 4. Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3140947
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please feel free to leave a message