Skip to main content

Address from the women of Ballarat and Ballarat East in the colony of Victoria to the women of England

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/RCMS 299

Scope and Contents

A roll of paper 31 x 1067 cm in size. In 1863 it was recommended to increase the number of convicts transported to Western Australia, and the proposal was met with strident opposition from it and the other Australian colonies through a series of petitions. Reaction in Victoria was especially strong because of anxiety that its goldfields would attract many escaped or former convicts. Although it was decided in early 1864 not to expand penal transportation to Western Australia, many had hoped that it would have ceased altogether. In Oct. 1864 this petition, signed by more than 1,300 women of the shire of Ballarat, appealed for the support of women in England to have transportation finally abolished. In the following year, the government decided to end transportation within three years and the final convicts arriived in Western Australia in 1868.

Dates

  • Creation: 1864-10

Conditions Governing Access

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Extent

1 rolled item(s) (1 roll) : paper

Language of Materials

English

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

good condition

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Presented by the Guildhall Library, 1948.

Existence and Location of Copies

The names of the petitioners have been transcribed and indexed by Robin Da Costa-Adams in ‘Address with signatories from the women of Ballarat & Ballarat East to the women of England’ (Melbourne, 2001) and a copy has been filed with the collection.

General

This archival description was entered by MJC.

Date information

DateText: The date is approximate..

Includes index.
Date
2018-08-15 12:17:47+00:00
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom