Prologue

At the age of 21 William Marshall Shaw must have wondered if he had a future in Scotland. Brought up on the 211 acre farm "Carrickstone" on the Cumbernauld Estate, one of 13 children to Joseph Shaw and his wife Agnes Waugh, his father was dead and his two surviving older brothers, James, 39 and Joseph, 29 had moved away to become dairymen in Glasgow, though James had recently taken on the farm, "Ramoan" at Glenboig, to the south-west of Cumbernauld.

The Cumbernald Estate was now owned by 'new money', John William Burns, a shipping company owner. Andrew Whitecross, long-time Estate Factor and father-in-law to brother James had first followed the 'old money', Cornwallis Maude-Fleming to his estate at Cashel, Ireland but had now retired back in Scotland.

Only his 58 year-old mother and 26 year-old sister are left at home, his mother eventually to move to South Muirside, Cumbernauld.

The situation probably wasn't much different with erstwhile neighbours, the Main family. John Shaw had married Agnes Main, but tragically died within a week, and Thomas Main had married Janet Shaw so William Marshall Shaw was brother-in-law twice-over to William Main, 21 and George Main, 19, lads of his own age.

The Main family had relatives in Australia so this would seem to be an obvious destination for three young men seeking adventure and a new life 'down under'! The story begins:

The Diary of George Main

Day One, Monday November 7^th 1887. I left home at six o'clock took the train from Dullatur to Queen Street Station, Glasgow at half past six. Got a barrow at Queen Street Station¹ and took over the luggage to the Central Station where I got a train from there to London which arrived at Euston Station² at 7 o'clock on Tuesday morning November 8^th where I got William³ waiting for me. We took a cab down to the East India Docks where I left the luggage and went and had breakfast. We went down to the docks again, went and seen the Selembria,⁴ went back and had dinner, then took a walk through London, came back and got supper and went to bed.

Day Two, Tuesday November 8^th 1887. Rose next morning, had a wash got breakfast, and prepared to go on board the ship. We went down in the afternoon, but had to go to the emigrants home as the ship was not ready for us, but we got on very well there, got our tea about five o'clock and went to bed about ten o'clock.

Day Three, Wednesday November 9^th 1887. Rose next morning and got breakfast, took a walk, and came back and got dinner about one and went on board the ship in the afternoon where we got our tea and was not very late on going to bed.

Setting Sail

Day Four, Thursday November 10^th 1887. Rose next morning and got breakfast then we started from London about 9 o'clock, and came down to Gravesend⁵ where we got a cargo of gun powder and stayed there till next morning about five o'clock. There was two stowaways came up and they were put ashore at Gravesend, then we came on to Dover⁶ where we let off a pilot.

Day Six, Saturday November 12^th 1887. We are always in sight of land yet but there is not much to be seen but some birds flying about the deck.

Day Seven, Sunday November 13^th 1887. There is nothing unusual, no service but we were singing some hymns in the afternoon and went to bed early.

Day Eight, Monday November 14^th 1887. In the bay⁷ but it is very smooth as yet some of them is sick but I have not felt anything yet. We seen a lot of big fish which they called porpoises, and some birds flying about.

Day Nine, Tuesday November 15^th 1887. We got porridge for the first time and I think they were made of thirds⁸ but I did not take much of them.

Day Ten, Wednesday November 16^th 1887. Things is very quiet nothing to be seen but a few fish swimming about and some birds.

Day Eleven, Thursday November 17^th 1887. Very rough this morning so I just lay in bed and read a book just getting up to get some meat, there is a great many sick, but I have not been yet, we saw a ship today passing by.

Day Twelve, Friday November 18^th 1887. We saw another ship today and it is a little calmer so we can get walking about the deck, but they have not all got better yet.

Teneriffe

Day Thirteen, Saturday November 19^th 1887. When I rose this morning we were in sight of the Canary Islands, and when we got breakfast, and was looking at the hills as we passed along, we saw some flying fish, then we was anchored at Santa Cruz ⁹, where we went ashore in the afternoon and looked about us, but it not very easy knowing what they say, but there is an English Hotel and they can talk English but that was all.

Day Fourteen, Sunday November 20^th 1887. Rose and got breakfast and was going ashore again when we heard there was to be a service we waited to hear it but did not think very much of it. Then we got our dinner and went ashore in the afternoon but it was just about the same as Saturday. We went up to the top of one of the hills where we seen a great many plants, and there was a wall built round the top of it. We was very thirsty but we came down and got some wine in a little shop so we came away to get on board about six o'clock. Then we had our tea and looked about us and went to bed.

Day Fifteen, Monday November 21^st 1887. Began to clean out our cabin this morning so we are very busy, but was finished about dinner time. Then had a game at draughts¹⁰ in the afternoon, got our tea and took a walk about the deck and went to bed.

Day Sixteen, Tuesday November 22^nd 1887. We have got a new steward this morning so we are getting better meat now and the time is passing very well. We are enjoying ourselves very well between cards, and draughts, and dancing, and other sorts of things.

Day Seventeen, Wednesday November 23^rd 1887. Got porridge this morning again but they were better than the last although they were not very good after all. We went ashore in the afternoon and enjoyed ourselves, came back just in time for tea, then had some more fun and went to bed.

Day Eighteen, Thursday November 24^th 1887. After breakfast had some games at draughts again, and other games to pass the time away, there was some dancing but there was just some of them could do it and it was nearly stuck.

Day Nineteen, Friday November 25^th 1887. Was alarmed this morning by the alarm of fire about six o'clock in the next cabin, but it was not long or it was put out, as it was a lamp that had took on fire. Some of them was running about without their clothes on, but I was just thinking about getting up when it was put out. We went ashore and got our tea which was very good, got four eggs each then came on board and got our tea again. We had a little dancing and then went to bed, but not long fallen asleep when the cry of fire arose again. I thought it was not the truth but when I looked out I seen all the sailors running I thought there was something wrong, I put on my clothes and went down to where the smoke was coming from, all the passengers was up and running about the ship but they got it out all right, there was one of the engineers was nearly suffocated but he got all better again, so we went to bed again.

Day Twenty, Saturday November 26^th 1887. Went ashore in the afternoon and took a walk through the town from one place to the other then came on board and got tea had a game at draughts and went to bed.

Day Twenty-One, Sunday November 27^th 1887. Got breakfast and was intending to go to service but they did not happen to be any so we had to pass the time the best way we could.

Day Twenty-Two, Monday November 28th 1887. Nothing new but just playing at cards or draughts or anything to pass the time not much dancing tonight so we just went to bed.

Day Twenty-Three, Tuesday November 29^th 1887. Got another new steward but he is not so good as the last one, but he is doing the best he can so I hope we will get along all right. We had a little dancing, but not very much so things is very quiet.

Day Twenty-Four, Wednesday November 30^th 1887. Playing at draughts all day very near, but the time I was at meat, but we are enjoying ourselves very well.

Day Twenty-Five, Thursday December 1^st 1887. Went ashore and got hooks and line for fishing, then took a walk through town and came back just in time for tea, then we went and had some dancing then went to bed.

Day Twenty-Six, Friday December 2^nd 1887. Went to the fishing and caught one after a great struggle so we will have fish for breakfast tomorrow morning so we are doing very well never wearying the least in the meantime, had a little fun and went to bed.

Day Twenty-Seven, Saturday December 3^rd 1887. Got up this morning and got our fish cooked and had breakfast then went away to the fishing again, but some Spaniards stole the hooks and a piece of line so that will finish my fishing. I had a game of cards at night with some of the rest of them and then went to bed.

Setting Sail Again

Day Twenty-Eight, Sunday December 4^th 1887. No service this morning yet, so we went ashore after dinner and got a supply of oranges, (which is the last time we will be ashore at Santa Cruz) then came on board and had our tea, then we started from Santa Cruz about ten o'clock, but you could not see much as it was very dark and we had just to go to bed.

Day Twenty-Nine, Monday December 5^th 1887. When we rose this morning nothing to be seen but water, so we had just to enjoy ourselves, by playing at cards and draughts, so we went to bed about ten o'clock.

Day Thirty, Tuesday December 6^th 1887. After breakfast I went and got a cropp¹¹which is the first one I had on board, then went and had a game of draughts and cards, then after we got our tea, I took a walk about, but as there was not much going on, I went to bed about 9 o'clock.

Day Thirty-One, Wednesday December 7^th 1887. Nothing to seen but water yet, but I am enjoying myself very well, it is getting hot today but there is a little breeze and we are getting along very smoothly. There was a row today between one of the engineers and one of the stewards and the steward is very sore hurt, but I did not see him till after it dark, but when I went down the first thing I saw was the engineer's wife lying in hysterics, so I came away back and went to bed very early.

Day Thirty-Two, Thursday December 8^th 1887. Everything is very quiet this two days so we have just to do the best we can to pass the time away. We seen some sharks, and flying fish and a great flock of birds but as they did not come near us I can not tell what kind they were, but they were some gulls and Petrels came nearer us. The steward is a little better but he is very weak yet and the woman is not much better yet, she lay out on deck all night, and the sailors had to put a sail over the top of her, but tonight they have taken her into the saloon, but I think she will get better ere long. And as they are no dancing or anything tonight I went to bed.

Day Thirty-Three, Friday December 9^th 1887. Got up early this morning and washed some clothes before breakfast, then had a game of draughts, and in the afternoon we seen some sharks and flying fish and a great lot of porpoises. Then we had to go to a meeting at eight o'clock to arrange about some entertainments which we expect to have, but I don't know how we will get on with them. Then we came back and had a game of cards and went to bed.

Day Thirty-Four, Saturday December 10^th 1887. We are getting along very smoothly and enjoying ourselves with anything we think best, but there is not much doing. It was very dull in the afternoon and then it came on rain about five o'clock then we had a very heavy shower at 7 o'clock and as there was no fun I went to bed about 9 o'clock.

Day Thirty-Five, Sunday December 11^th 1887. It is very windy today and we had two or three heavy showers of rain in the forenoon, and there is nothing to be seen but flying fish. There was a service today at eleven o'clock so we went along and heard them but I could not understand them as they just read out of a prayer book, and sang some hymns. Then we back and had our dinner then past the afternoon the best way we could and went to bed about 9 o'clock.

Crossing The Line

Day Thirty-Six, Monday December 12^th 1887. The sea is a little rough today but we are getting along fine, we saw some porpoises and flying fish and a whale one which the sailors called a bottle nosed whale. Then we crossed the line¹² about 9 o'clock, and then the fun commenced, as we got a call from Father Neptune, his wife and his officers and all them that was not cross the line before got shaved but it was only a sham, then we went to bed.

Day Thirty-Seven, Tuesday December 13^th 1887. The sea is very rough and the ship is rocking a little but there is none of them sick so we are doing well, but there is nothing but flying fish to be seen today. Then we had a little dancing tonight and had a game of cards and draughts and went to bed.

Day Thirty-Eight, Wednesday December 14^th 1887. The sea is very rough today yet, but we are all getting along fine, there is a good strong wind and we are getting along very slow, and as there is not much fun we have just to pass the time with anything we think about, we don't see anything but water and sometimes a bird flying about.

Day Thirty-Nine, Thursday December 15^th 1887. Nothing new today only just passing the time away the best way we can, there was a row with the captain, the purser, and the chief steward about something but I don't know what it was and I think there is always some row or other.

Day Forty, Friday December 16^th 1887. Nothing new yet and we don't see anything, except some flying fish now and again, the sea is a little calmer so we are getting along smoothly, but very slow, and as there is not much fun we went to bed.

Selembrian Lantern Concert

Day Forty-One, Saturday December 17^th 1887. Getting along very well as there is a little more stir, as there is going to be a concert tonight. We saw a ship today but it was a good way off, but I think it was a sailing ship. We went down to the concert at half past seven o'clock, and it was not so bad after all. The chair was taken by Captain Fowler, but gave it up to Doctor King, as he had some other thing to do. So I will give you the programme and it was titled the Selembria Lantern Concert.

Day Forty-Two, Sunday December 18^th 1887. Nothing to be seen today and things is very quiet but we went to service at 11 o'clock then came back and got our dinner, then passed the afternoon the best way we could, some of them was singing hymns, and then went to bed.

Day Forty-Three, Monday December 19^th 1887. It is very warm today as the sun is just about above our head. We are not wearying any as we have got a new game started which they call bull board. There is very little to be seen but a bird sailing on the water but I don't know what kind of bird it was as it was a good way off. Then we had a little dancing at night and went to bed about 11 o'clock.

Day Forty-Four, Tuesday December 20^th 1887. It is very warm yet but there is a little breeze of wind and it keep us cool. We pass a raft or some piece of a ship today but I don't know where it came from as it just sailed past us. Then we had some more dancing to-night again then went to bed.

Day Forty-Five, Wednesday December 21^st 1887. Getting along all right as yet, passing the time with any sort of amusement we can think of, but there is not so much fun today as they are taking out some coals¹³ and barrels and some other things out of the hatches. There is no dancing tonight so we had a game of draughts and went to bed.

Day Forty-Six, Thursday December 22^nd 1887. The sea is very rough today, and the ship is rolling a little and the waves is coming over the deck sometimes. We seen a great many porpoises, and birds flying about then we past the time away with all sorts of amusements but have to watch or we would get wet with the waves as they come over, so we must just do the best we can.

Day Forty-Seven, Friday December 23^rd 1887. The sea is rough yet and the weather is very cold today, but we are doing very well as yet. We seen a lot of albatrosses and stormy petrels and some other birds. Then after we got our tea we went and had a game of tig¹⁴ round the deck till it was dark, then had a game of draughts till bed time.

Day Forty-Eight, Saturday December 24^th 1887. It is cold today yet and the sea is a little rough but there is none of us sick so we are getting along fine. There is a great many albatrosses flying about the ship, but we are not in sight of land, nothing but water all around us. Owing to the roughness of the sea they did not hold the concert today, and there is very little fun tonight.

Christmas Day

Day Forty-Nine, Sunday December 25^th 1887. As this is Christmas we are getting on very well today we got a bun for breakfast, then we had a goose for dinner but you may know that when eighteen of us got a piece we had not much for each of us. There was service today, but I was not at, as they opened the hatch for our boxes so we had to attend to them. One of the stowaways caught two birds, he went up the masts and caught them, but he let one of them away, and gave the other to some of the passengers, I forgot to tell you that we have four stowaways with us yet forbye¹¹ the two that went ashore.

Day Fifty, Monday December 26^th 1887. The sea is a little calmer today, but it was raining this morning when we got up but it cleared away about ten o'clock. There is a great many birds flying about today and we saw a ship yesterday but it was a good way of, we could just see the top of the masts. Then we expect to have the concert tonight after the dinner, all the females and married men was up on the poop deck at there dinner, so there will be some fun tonight I think.

Day Fifty-One, Tuesday December 27th 1887. We had the concert last night about eight o'clock so it was very late when we got finished, as we had some dancing after the Concert, then there was a row with the sailors at twelve o'clock just as I was going to bed. It is getting warmer today so we are getting all right, but things is a little quiet today. Then we had a game of tig and draughts & cards till it was time to go to bed.

Day Fifty-Two, Wednesday December 28^th 1887. Things is very quiet today, there is not much fun, as they are at the coals again so there is a great lot of dust flying about, but we are going at a good rate as the wind is behind us. We have a lot of birds flying about us, some albatrosses and other kinds. Then the sea got rough in the afternoon and we had some rain just as it was getting dark. But we are getting very little to eat today as the stores is about all done, but we must just put up with it, and I think we will manage it all right, as we have got a good length now, and we have got along all right as yet so I can't say nothing about it.

Day Fifty-Three, Thursday December 29^th 1887. The sea is a little rough yet, and we had a good lot of rain last night, but it was fair this morning. They are busy with the coals again so there is always a dust flying about, but we have just to put up with it. We had some game at draughts and cards and had a game of tig about the deck till tea time. Then after tea we saw some porpoises jumping about, and we have always some birds with us yet then we passed the time with some other sort of games till bed-time.

Day Fifty-Four, Friday December 30^th 1887. The sea is very rough to-day yet and the ship is rocking a little, but there is none of us sick so we are getting along all right considering, but things is very quiet, they are always at the coals to day yet, and it very cold, some showers of rain now and again. There was something wrong with the machinery to-day and they stopped the ship for about an hour but as there was a good blow of wind we was never at a fair stand still, so they got it all right again, and we passed the time the best way we could. We had a little bit of fire in the bakers today again but it was put out very soon as there was just new started.

Day Fifty-Five, Saturday December 31^st 1887. We seen a ship when we got up this morning, and we passed it about 12 o'clock, one that left London some days before, named the Duke of Atholl¹⁶ bound for Adelaide, but they did not speak to it, then we seen the masts of another but we soon lost sight of them both. The sea is rough today and the ship is rocking but not so much as the one we passed as it was a sailing ship. Then we passed the time with cards and draughts and other sort of games. We have always some albatrosses and other sort of birds flying about, some of the passengers is trying to catch some of them with a hook, but they will not take the meat.

New Year 1888

Day Fifty-Six, Sunday January 1^st 1888. As this is the new year, things look rather strange, but you would hardly know any difference, I suppose they were firing some rockets last night about twelve but I was in bed so I did not see them. I suppose there was a row last night too but I did not see it and one of the engineers is got very badly hurt got his nose broken or something. Then there was no service today so we just passing the time the best way we could, but there was a lot of our companions reading some chapters out of the Bible at night so we then went to bed.

Day Fifty-Seven, Monday January 2^nd 1888. The sea is a little calmer today and the weather is a little warmer, but it was very cold this last two or three days. We saw some bottle-nosed whales yesterday, and we see some seaweed passing bye us today, and a great flock of birds flying about and things is very quiet today nothing but playing cards and draughts and some other sort of amusements till bedtime.

Day Fifty-Eight, Tuesday January 3^rd 1888. The sea is getting rougher today again and the waves is coming over sometimes. But there is very little to be seen only some birds flying about so it is very tiresome as there is very few games going on, but we passed the time the best way could till bedtime.

Day Fifty-Nine, Wednesday January 4^th 1888. It is a very disagreeable day we can hardly go out as it is raining and great big waves coming over, but we must just put up with it now. We have just to play at cards, draughts, and any other thing to pass the time, so we hope that it will soon clear up and that we get out again.

Day Sixty, Thursday January 5^th 1888. The sea is a little calmer today again and the sun is a little warmer, so we are getting more fun today, playing at cards & draughts and all sort of amusements. There is nothing to be seen but birds yet, but there is not so many birds as what they were. The days is getting longer now and we can see till after eight o'clock.

Day Sixty-One, Friday January 6^th 1888. Things is very quiet nothing unusual only passing the time the best way we can, we are just passed St Paul's island, so we have some more birds but that is all.

Day Sixty-Two, Saturday January 7^th 1888. This is the day we clean out our cabin so we are busy for a little, but very little fun nothing but draughts & cards all day, we have had no dancing for a very long time so it is very wearisome. The weather is a little cold yet but not just so cold as it was, but we have a good many fleas about our bed. I always heard the rest talking about them but I never felt any till this two days.

Day Sixty-Three, Sunday January 8^th 1888. No Service today so we passed the time the best way we could but wearying very much, nothing but birds seen flying about. Then in the afternoon the sea got very rough and great big waves coming over the ship, but we have always the wind behind yet so we get along all right, but sometimes it rolls more with the sails being up. Then after it was dark we read some chapters out of the bible all taken a turn about which passed the evening, then we went to bed.

Day Sixty-Four, Monday January 9^th 1888. The sea is a little rough but things is very quiet no fun outside the cabin and very little inside. Nothing but reading a book or playing draughts & cards, and sometimes out helping the sailors to put up the sails. The weather is very cold yet but gradually getting warmer every day but to-night we have very little wind it is not doing us any good.

Day Sixty-Five, Tuesday January 10^th 1888. The wind is blowing a little this morning, and the ship was rolling very much through the night, although you would think the sea was very smooth. This is a very disagreeable day between rain and waves coming over you can not get outside the cabin, but it cleared up a little at night so we went out and took a walk, then had a game of cards, and went to bed about eleven o'clock.

Day Sixty-Six, Wednesday January 11^th 1888. There is a good wind this morning and we have up all the sails but raining as usual in the forenoon, then in the afternoon it cleared up and they took down some of the sails. We have very little sport through the day, sometimes helping the sailors and playing draughts and such like, but at night the fun commenced, this last two nights after eleven o'clock there is always something starts you would think it was a menagerie, some of them will start the crowing like a cock and some of them will bark like a dog and all sort of things in the dark. The lights is always put out at eleven o'clock but sometimes it's in the morning before we fall asleep.

Day Sixty-Seven, Thursday January 12^th 1888. Getting along, along right but passing the time very miserable wishing we were at Sydney, nothing to take up your attention, to keep you from wearying. Rain in the afternoon again nothing to be seen but a few birds flying about, so we wish we were in sight of land, and we would get something to amuse us.

Day Sixty-Eight, Friday January 13^th 1888. Getting into better weather now, the sun is warmer today so we can lie out on the deck and amuse ourselves. We have a good wind today, so we were busy helping the sailors with the sails. But there is very few games this long time, no dancing, no concerts nor nothing, but we expect to be landed in about a week.

Australia In Sight

Day Sixty-Nine, Saturday January 14^th 1888. We passed Cape Leeuwin¹⁷ last night sometime, but you can't see it, the birds is all left now so we have nothing with us now all that we can see is water. The sun is a little hot today but in the afternoon we had a very heavy shower of rain. I think we had a shower of rain about every day for a long time.

Day Seventy, Sunday January 15^th 1888. Very little to be seen nothing to amuse us, we are all wishing we were at Sydney. We had a service today which passed the forenoon, then we had just to walk about the deck. The sun is getting a little warmer and we have a good wind which is blowing behind us, so it will help us along a little better.

Day Seventy-One, Monday January 16^th 1888. Nothing worth writing about the only thing that is new is that the birds is flying about again, there is no fun now whatever except draughts & cards sometimes.

Day Seventy-Three, Tuesday January 17^th 1888. We saw a whale today but it was a good way off, we only saw it blowing. Then in the afternoon we got a lecture from the Doctor about ambulance work, but we have to get some more yet which I think will do us good.

Day Seventy-Four, Wednesday January 18^th 1888. After we got our breakfast we went to wash some clothes, and make preparations for going ashore. Then in the afternoon we got another lecture from the Doctor again, which helps to put past the time.

Day Seventy-Five, Thursday January 19^th 1888. We seen some ships this morning and after we got our breakfast we seen land, but it soon went out of sight again. Then we watched some sharks or some other sort of fish which was swimming about till it was about lecture time, then we went down and heard the lecture about broken bones & how to heal them. Then we had a concert at night which past the night very well, then we had some dancing after that, but it did not get on very well, so then we went to bed.

Day Seventy- Six, Friday January 20^th 1888. Got up this morning at five o'clock and went out to see the land which was on both side of us this morning. and we seen four ship this morning. It was Cape Otway we passed yesterday and it is Wilsons Promontory¹⁸ we passed today which we signalled to it. There was a great swarm of birds this morning sailing on the water, I never saw as many birds all my life before, all at once. Then after we got our breakfast we had a very heavy shower of rain, but it did not last very long. Then about twelve o'clock we past a steamer coming of course the different way of us, and as we was out of sight of land by this time we was very glad to see something. Then we got another lecture from the Doctor about burns, sprains and other such like.

Day Seventy-Seven, Saturday January 21^st 1888. Got up early this morning again to see land again and some ships sailing about, we passed Cape Howe¹⁹ last night. So we are busy getting ready to go ashore which we expect to be at Sydney tomorrow, but we have been going very slow this two days. On Thursday night the engines was all stopped as we was coming through the straits, and as they could not see the lighthouse they were afraid they would run against the rocks. We went down this afternoon and got the finish of the ambulance lecture which I think will do us some good, some of them was trying to see how they would tie up broken bones or how they would do if any of them got their legs sprained or anything of that sort. Then we had some sports at night, which was very enjoyable. I think it was the best night we had, some to them was dancing, then we went to bed between eleven & twelve o'clock.

Sydney

Day Seventy-Eight, Sunday January 22^nd 1888. Got up this morning at half-past four o'clock but it was very dull so we could not see anything but the lighthouse of Sydney, then at six o'clock we could see land which I think was very nice. Shortly after that we got a pilot on board, then a doctor, which we had all to go through examination. But we was anchored a good piece off from the wharf as we could not get in till once the powder was off. But we got a pretty sight as we had land all around us, and small boats sailing about, only wishing we was along-side of the shore so we would get walking about. The crew had all their letters on board today. Then there was a notice put up in the afternoon that all the passengers was to be put ashore with a steam launch next day so we had to get everything ready to go ashore.

Day Seventy-Nine, Monday January 23^rd 1888. Got up this morning early to go ashore so there was a great noise all getting packed up to go ashore. Then the launch came in about eight o'clock and got all our luggage on board, then the passengers, and landed us in Sydney about ten o'clock, which ends our voyage to Australia.

The first thing was to get lodgings but we soon put up at Goldens Hotel,²⁰ Kent & Erskine Street where we stayed a week. We was at the unveiling of the Queen's Statue²¹ on Tuesday and at the show on Wednesday, seen the foundation stone laided of the trade hall²², and was at the Christian Association on Saturday night & Sunday night where we was heartily welcomed. Then on Tuesday we got free passes to come up to Werris Creek²³ and we left Sydney about five o'clock that night, arrived at Werris Creek on Wednesday morning where we got Tom Bishop waiting for us with the buggy, so we drove up to the farm which is four or five miles from the Station. Then we all three went down with a dray for our luggage and that was all we done that day. Then on Thursday we started work which was cutting chaff in the forenoon then I was watering trees in the afternoon.

Friday. Cutting Horehound²⁴ in the forenoon & watering a hedge in the afternoon.

Saturday. Watering trees all day.

Sunday. Raining today so we are sitting in our house.

Monday & Tuesday. Cutting horehound.

Wednesday. Carting stones & gravel.

Thursday. Raking weeds but it came on to rain so we went to cut chaff & winnow^>25 some wheat.

Fri & Sat. Raking & carting weeds.

Sunday. Raining today again so we just reading books & such like.

Monday. Winnowing wheat today as it is raining.

Tuesday. Winnowing wheat in the forenoon & cutting chaff in the afternoon.

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. Cutting thistles.

Saturday. Raking & carting weeds out of the garden.

Sunday. This is a better day so I am looking about.

Monday & Tuesday. Cutting thistles.

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. Burning weeds

Saturday. Cutting thistles in the forenoon but as it came on rain, three of us and our manager went to catch mice in the barn in the afternoon and caught 1130. I never saw as many before.

Sunday. Went away this morning & had a ride through the paddock with the groom.

S.S. Selembria

This ends the diary of George Main. However some questions remain as to why the passage of the Selembria was held up in Teneriffe. Fortunately a contemporary report from The Sydney Morning Herald provides an answer:

Postscript

By 1889 William Marshall Shaw had left the state of New South Wales and moved to Marborough, Victoria. Was he attracted to the idea of prospecting for gold like many other men drawn to that area? At any rate he found work on the railway, appointed as porter at Maryborough station on 30^th April 1889.

Just up the line is Castlemaine, where Ellen Loretta O'Grady, daughter of Irish immigrants Daniel and Ellen O'Grady lived. On 16 September 1891 they got married, witnessed by George Main. The couple set up house in Maryborough, where two boys Robert and Donald were born, Robert in 1892 and Donald in 1896. Perhaps Robert is named after William's older brother Robert who was killed in a railway accident? (Is is possible that the opening of a railway station at nearby Dullatur in 1876, attracted both boys to railways, killing one and giving a career to the other?). Sadly Robert died in 1897.

William transferred to Williamstown, Melbourne in 1909 where a daughter, Mary Amelia, was born. Later he moved to Lancefield, 69 km (43 miles) north of Melbourne, and then retired, having reached the rank of stationmaster, to Dandendong where he bought a property on Porter Street. His wife, Ellen Lorretta O'Grady died there in 1938 at the age of 72. Old age or poor health lead him to move in with his daughter living at Alfred Street, Kew, Melbourne where he died in 1948 aged 82.

Donald Shaw

The surviving children, Donald and Mary, were brought up as Catholics, no doubt in line with their mother's wishes. Robert was ordained as a priest on 6^th December 1919, in Melbourne, his uncle, James Henry O'Grady, acting as his chaplain. He become a well-liked priest in Tasmania where he helped expand the Our Lady of Lourdes school. His name lives on in the St. Brendan-Shaw College, Devonport, Tasmania.

In March 1937 Fr. Donald Shaw took a year out to undertake a tour of the World and in August 1937 he visited his cousin Joseph Shaw who had taken on "Ramoan" farm, Glenboig, from Donald's uncle James, Joseph's father. Many of the Shaw family came to "Ramoan" to meet Fr. Donald and his fellow-priest and uncle Fr. James Henry O'Grady.

Family legend has it that when news of Fr. Donald's proposed visit was heard someone said, "As long as they don't talk religion it will be all right." (The Protestant tradition within the Shaw family was strong).

On Fr. Donald Shaw's return to Tasmania in March 1938 he gave several presentations in which he described some of the events that took place on his travels, including meeting up with Henry Ford, the motor manufacturer, who treated him as a guest.

Here is a typical report rom the time, notable in that he mentions 'his father's people':

Donald Shaw died in hospital 12^th November 1958 aged 62.

Mary Amelia Shaw or Marie Angela Shaw

Mary Amelia Shaw chose to be known as Marie Angela Shaw, she was described as 'Marie' in her father's will of 1938.

in 1940 She married William Henry Witney, retaining her birth name on the official record.

In April 1944 she married again, to Gordon Baden Gellert, who served with the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. Newspapers of the time give her name as Marie Angela but the official record has her as Mary Amelia Shaw. Incidentally while one newspaper describes her father, William Marshall Shaw as being from Dandendong two of them state Carrickstone, although not that this was a farm in Scotland.

Marie Angela Shaw-Gellert, died on 2^nd May 1988 aged 78, the last of this Shaw line in Australia.