The Voyage

The Nairnshire was a new iron ship of two decks and cemented bulkhead. She was built in 1876 by Dobie & Co. in Glasgow and owned by T. Law & Co. Her details are as follows:

Code letters: WTRG, Official No. 76720

Tonnage: 1,027Cons gross, 899 under deck and 965net

Dimensions: 204 feet long, 33.6 foot beam and holds 19.9 feet deep

Poop: 42 feet long; Forecastle: 26 feet.

Port of registry: Glasgow

Port of survey: Cardiff.111

For centuries, many Scots have been enticed or forced to seek a new life in distant lands — predominantly, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.  Many immigrants, convicts included, actually achieved their dream of better opportunities on foreign soil, although some unfortunates never survived the arduous sea voyages.  Times were tough in late 19th century Scotland when my great-grandfather Andrew Paterson Frame and his brother John left their Scottish homeland. At that time, half the population relied upon labour-intensive manufacturing industries for their livelihood. Hours were long and workplaces unsafe.  Living conditions were often cramped and also unhealthy. Disease outbreaks such as Cholera and Typhoid were not uncommon. To make matters worse, Scotland's days of industrial success were waning. The resources of iron and coal upon which Scotland’s industrial growth had flourished, were becoming exhausted. It is little wonder that the ‘lands of opportunity’ across the seas beckoned to so many. 

In 1883, within our own family, we saw Andrew  and John sail for Bundaberg, Queensland and their sister Elizabeth to New York, USA - all within a few months of one another. No doubt they found the emigration posters exhibited in their local Post Office irresistible. However, it is difficult to imagine the sheer anguish of their widowed mother Agnes Paterson as she heard them discuss their plans to emigrate, knowing in her heart she would probably never set eyes on her children again.  Whilst Lizzie Frame planned to marry James Harrison and live in Manhattan upon her arrival in New York — her brothers John and Andrew were two single young men heading off into the great unknown — life in a hot, dry, harsh southern land. It stands to reason the pair probably harboured some misgivings as they contemplated leaving their family and familiar surroundings. 

Before they immigrated to Australia, the Frame brothers would have carefully studied a prospectus similar to one published by the Queensland Govt. in 1888, which offered free passage to unmarried female domestic servants and unmarried agricultural labourers from 17 to 35 years of age. To obtain a free passage, one had to apply to the Agent-General in London; however, the Queensland Government made the final selection. No approval — no free passage. Obviously the Frame men passed muster!  They may have felt some trepidation about what was ahead of them, but Andrew and John Frame would also have been filled with a sense of exhilaration contemplating a great adventure in a sailing ship on the high seas. 

See:  Weston NSW: Great-Grandfather's Family

On 21 March 1883, with bags packed and, no doubt, some teary family farewells exchanged, Andrew and John boarded the Nairnshire (see image above) in Glasgow, the major port city about 18km to the north of Hamilton. Along with about 340 other passengers from the United Kingdom, they set sail for Australia under the command of Captain John Peattie. 

The favoured shipping route from the United Kingdom and Europe to Australia was via the Cape of Good Hope, through Bass Strait, east along the Gippsland coast then turning north at Cape Howe to follow the New South Wales, and in this instance, the Queensland coastlines. The danger sections were entering Bass Strait and rounding Cape Howe. In contrast to many immigrant voyages, the Nairnshire and her passengers were blessed with fair weather and good sailing until they were off the Tasmanian coast. Here, they experienced long calms which delayed the voyage for many days. Finally, on Saturday afternoon, 7 July 1883, after 107 days at sea, the signals at the Bundaberg Telegraph Office announced the Nairnshire’s arrival. It was a momentous occasion for the citizens of Bundaberg since the Nairnshire was the second of only six immigrant ships to arrive in the port. Whilst the Bundaberg and Mount Perry Mail newspaper featured the arrival in its 13 July 1883 issue, it was commemorated again 43 years later on 27 February 1926 in the Bundaberg Daily News and Mail.

On 27 February 1926, the Bundaberg Daily News and Mail commemorated the arrival of the Nairnshire in 1883:

‘NAIRNSHIRE’

27th February 1926

Bundaberg Daily News and Mail

History and Incident.

Being the comment and recollections 

from week to week by 

H.J. Marks, forty years a District and Bundaberg press writer.

‘Forty-three years ago, or to be precise, on the 7th July 1883, the population of Bundaberg received a [? boost] by the arrival in the Burnett of the immigrant ship ‘Nairnshire’, with 341 English, Scot and Irish men, women and children on board; a splendid type of people, most of whom settled in the district, and became citizens that the community have had reason to be proud of. A few of the old originals are still with us, whilst their descendants, children and great grandchildren, are scattered throughout the Burnett and Port Curtis districts in large numbers, and others are scattered over every portion of the State. Their coming was hailed with enthusiasm by the Bundaberg people, and the confidence placed in the new comers was merited, for with the proverbial occasional exception, they all made good.

A RED LETTER DAY

That spirited townsman, Mr Michael Duffy, made the occasion a red-letter day for Bundaberg. On that memorable Saturday afternoon, at the invitation of Mr Duffy, representative townsmen proceeded in the ‘Mystery’ to where the new comers were riding at anchor outside the bar. Amongst those who responded to the thoughtful invitation were His Worship the mayor Mr Walter Adams, Dr May, Messrs W.B. O'Connell, A.M. Goodwin, J. Rowland, R.H. Dyball, R.KMcNish, W.H. Fox and J.S. Mieklejohn.

The river in those days was not then as navigable as in later days, and on reaching Fairymead wharf it was found that the water was too low to cross Rocky Reach with safety to the propeller, and the ‘Mystery’ laid to for a couple of hours, the ‘Welcoming’ party beguiling the time by partaking of a ready meal of bread and meat. Eventually the ‘Mystery’ got under way again, and the fine ship ‘Nairnshire’ was boarded at 7.30 pm, and a cold night it was too. The immigrants received the visitors with load applause, delighted beyond bounds to meet with some of those who were to become their fellow citizens.

MAYORAL WELCOME

After the formal business of calling the muster roll, the passengers were marshalled before the poop, from which Mayor Adams delivered the telling and practical address of welcome. He gave them sound advice as to how to succeed if they wished to become colonists of this great prosperous and free country. By perseverance and care of themselves, by acting conscientiously and eschewing that demon, drink, by a determination to work and do as others have had to do in Queensland before them, they had every chance of reaching the highest rung in the ladder of progress. Presentation of addresses from the passengers to Captain John Peattie, Surgeon Superintendent Dr. G.H. Russell, and to first, second and third mates, (Messrs Robert Henderson, James Henderson, Alexander Bruce) testified the high esteem in which each were held, and the harmony and warmth of co-ordination that existed throughout the lengthy trip. The ‘Nairnshire’, 964 tons register, was one of the finest vessels that had come to Queensland up to that period. Commanded by Captain Peattie, she left Glasgow on March 21st 1883, and experienced fair average weather, making tolerable every day's runs until off the coast of Tasmania, where long calms delayed her for many days. The passage was smooth throughout, and almost uneventful. Two vessels were spoken: The ‘Loch Garry’ bound for Melbourne, and the ‘Loch Head’, from London to Canterbury, New Zealand. The ‘Nairnshire’ was loaded with pig iron and fire bricks for Portland, Oregon, to which she proceeded immediately after landing her passengers.

HIGH CHARACTERS

Captain Peattie spoke in the highest terms of the characters and behaviours of the immigrants. No trouble was given the officers; the general health was good throughout, and the people were contented. Dr. Russell secured the respect of all by his thorough earnestness in his work, and his never failing efforts to amuse and interest those under his charge. Divine service was regularly conducted on Sundays, and concerts and occasional dances in fair weather were held at night. The matron Miss McCadie, was highly spoken of by young and old alike. She managed her onerous duties in a manner that secured the best of discipline with kindness. The immigrants themselves were in high spirits, the young men strong and healthy and anxious to get to work and make headway. Viewing their careers after a span of more than forty years, it may truly be said that their efforts were

most successful. Rarely, indeed, did a ship bring so fine and agreeable a lot of men and women to our shore. Generally speaking, whilst the great majority of those who came by the sailing vessels to make Queensland a wonderful country were of a manly, virile type, there was too often amongst the number some inveterate growlers, men and women of a discontented nature, and sometimes of a vicious temperament, and they created a discordant note which affected, more or less, the whole of the ship's complement. There were none of those malcontents, however, on the ‘Nairnshire’. No complaints of any kind were made, and the cleanliness of the vessel and respectable appearance of the new comers showed that every care possible had been taken to ensure comfort and contentment.

TWO DEATHS ABOARD

Two deaths occurred on the passage, one from consumption and the other by accident. An unfortunate seaman fell from the masthead, and died instantaneously. There were two births on board; perhaps each of these is now living in our midst. The only sickness on the ship was a slight symptom of whooping cough amongst some of the infants, but nothing worth mentioning. Early on the Monday afternoon, after two days waiting transhipment at the Burnett Heads, the A.S.N. steamer, ‘James Paterson, Pilot Neill in charge, conveyed the immigrants safely to the Bundaberg wharf. Here they were divided into sections, the married people being distributed amongst the vacant cottages, the single men going to the Victoria Hall, and the single women to the Immigration depot. Thus after 100 days from the time they sailed from Glasgow, the 341 new chums were landed on terra firma in the young but ambitious town of Bundaberg. Next Saturday I hope to be able to give the names of the whole of the passengers; yes, even the then babies, but who are now mostly grand parents: and other detailed information relating to them. It will interest many folk...cont.

The passenger list of the Nairnshire, which arrived at the mouth of the Burnett River on the afternoon of the 7th July 1883, totalled 341 souls, equal to 288 1/2 adults, mostly free immigrants, though a proportion were assisted, remittance or full-paying. The nationalities of the immigrants were 117 English, 180 Scotch and 41 Irish, whilst the occupations were 12 domestic servants, 89 farm hands, I shepherd, 10 labourers, 3 gardeners, 2 masons, II miners, 4 blacksmiths, I bricklayer, 5 engineers, I sawyer, 25 carpenters, and 13 of other trades.

Their social conditions were: married 40, single males 127, single females 45 adults, children under 12 years, male 14 and female 32; infants male 7, female 10 - a total of 214 males and 127 females. The ‘Nairnshire’ passengers were landed in Bundaberg early on the afternoon of the 9th July, and within the space of a couple of days practically the whole complement were absorbed in suitable occupations, or had joined friends who had previously became colonists. Mostly all remained in Bundaberg or the immediate Burnett district, and became citizens of whom the community had reason to be proud.

ITS PASSENGERS

The names of those who arrived by the ‘Nairnshire’ on that memorable trip of nearly 43 years ago are:-

[Full Paying]

Mrs Munro and child

[Assisted]

R. Bradded, W. Bolton, J. Bremmer, F. Bowles, D. Black, Robert, John, Margaret and Mary Barr, John and Jane Bedsted, E. Mary, J.and E. Boyle, W. Crichton, H. Donnely, J. Edgar, W. Frazer, W. Foster, J, Flemming, R. Foreman, Charles and Jane Grant, A. Gerrard, D. Gaffney, D. Gray, Eliza Gray, J. Hunter, T. Hordern, John, Anne, Mary Eleanor, Edith and Fred Haigh, G. Holdsworth, Charles and Cath Hutton, J. Hartley, T. Hebdon, Amelia Hebdon, A. Jack, R. D. A. and J. Kaye, J. Lorimer, J. Moss, T. McClue, D. Jane, J. Harry, W. D. and Jane Masterton, W. McKennan, D. Mclnnes, Roderick and Charles Moffatt, A. Mairs, A. McLintock, John, Mary, Georgina, Christina and Thomas McDonald, J. Niven, Robert, Rebecca, Ann, Will, Charles and Eleanor Nicholsen, D. Ritchie, S. River, Andrew, Annie, Isabella and Alice Rhodes. Will, Stephen, James and Janet Stirling, Mary Weldon, Thomas Williams, William and Margaret White, Robert, Jessie, John, Christina, Anne and Isabella Wilson, H. Wanklin.

[Free]

W. Armstrong, John, Jane, Maggie, Mary, Agnes and Ellen Ashe, Jessie Bolton, Thomas, Mary, James, Robert and Isabella Brodie, Mary Baghan, James Briggs, A. Bartain, James and David Bell, J. Barnicle, Mary, Pat and Mary Burke, C. Bywarten, G. Butewent, S. Baker, Ann Burk, Christina and George Bremmer, A. Clanachan, Ann Clark, J. Chambers, J. Christu, H. Cameron, J. Cook, T. Caseby, L. Crother, Sarah Cadman, Sarah Cogan, S. Copely, Ann Canway, G. Davidson, Maria Downs, Alex, Rosina, Richard, Mary and William Dearon, Cecilia Davis, J. Dempsey, W. Densnap, Agnes Hutton, J. Eddington, J. Firsgerald, D. Flanagan, J. Flude, J. Fishu, John and Andrew [Frame*],  D. Faishney, William, Mary, P. James, Edward, Ann and P. Fallens, M. Gormley, P Graham, A. Grassenor, W. Goldbury, James, Janet, Janet, Alex, William and John Galloway, Robina Gattely, Eliza Gallagher, Agnes Graham, George Hartles, G. Hartley, A. Hartley, M. Hayes, William, Annie, Florrie, Maria and Isabella Hartley, Louisa Haigh, Mat, Mary, Mat, Robert and Maggie Hall, Sarah Hance, Thomas Henton, Violet Hutton, George Jane, George and Sarah Jones, W. Inroy, J. Ivil, Alex, Grace, Mary and Robert Jarvel, Alex and Sarah Joyce, Archie Kelly, John Key, Sarah and John Kenny, Jane, Mary and Margaret Keating, Henry, Mary, Georgina, Henry, Catherine, Elizabeth and Helen Keating, A Lambert, W. Luin, A. Lennox, John, Janet, Ann, Jessie and Duncan Lambert, W. Lynnton, R. Morrison, A. McReadie, T. McNae, D. McCray, J. McDonald, P. McLaughlin, W. Moffatt, A. McNaughton, J. Mahu, Maria Merrigun. Henry, Mary and Mary McDade, Evan, Elizabeth, Richard, George, William, Mary, John and Evan McKenzie, M. McMullen, R. Miller, A. McCullough, R McCann, Rachel, Jane, Mary & Downie McLellan, Eliza Mclnnes, Mary McLennox, Jane McGowan, W. Mulney, J. McDonald, E. McCavanagh, A. McAdam, M. McReddie, Mary McLeod, J. Broden, Sarah O'Brien, Edward Phelan, R. Padder, H. Paterson. William, Charlotte and Arthur Pugh, P. Reid, J. Russell, Maggie Rodgers, Emma and Clara Rhodes, P. Stuart, R. Scott, George and John Simpson, E. Snowden, W. Sykes, John, Susan and George Scot, John and Sarah Sharp, W. Smith, G. Shackleton, Adam, Jane, Walter, John, Agnes, Adam and Jeremiah Sweddon, Aloyso Stainslaus, W. and Sarah Shackleton, E. Toal, William and Cecelia Thompson, Archibald, Mrs Janet, Helen, Arch., Will, Mary and Christina Wood, Mary and Elizabeth White, E. Wyld, J. Wood, Henry, Jane, Helen, Robert and John Wilson, May Wilson, Will, Helen, Margaret & Will Young

* Note: The newspaper journalist recorded John and Andrew Frame as John and Andrew Feranie. Whilst the original ship’s passenger list is very difficult to read and the journalist’s error understandable, John and Andrew Frame are recorded correctly in the Queensland State Archives Immigration Index. 

[Remittance]

John Moare, Robina and Margaret Wright

THE FIRST MAIL

As mail was leaving for the United Kingdom, via Torres Straits, per the R.M.S. Almora, on the 17th July, mostly all of the adult immigrants seized the opportunity of writing to their friends in the ‘old country’ giving their first impressions of the land of their adoption. It would, indeed, be interesting to learn how those ‘impressions’ coincided with their late experiences.

THE SHIPS BABIES

Of the two babies born on board the ‘Nairnshire’ on the trip to Queensland, spoken of in the article published on Saturday last, one is Mr F. Hartley of North Bundaberg, whose mother has reached the venerable age of 85 years, is still a resident of South Bundaberg. Many of the passengers included in the above list are well known district residents, notable so Mrs McLellan North Bundaberg, Jim Bell of Skyrings East Bundaberg, Tom Williams carpenter, and the McKavanaghs of the Sandhills. In fact, if a muster of shipmates was arranged there would be a large response.’

After years of searching for my great-grandfather Andrew Paterson Frame in shipping records and beginning to believe that he would never be found, it was quite a surprise to find that he had entered Australia through the port of Bundaberg in Queensland. How fortunate for us that immigrant ship arrivals were few in that port, and that the Nairnshire was one of the rarities and thus well featured in the Bundaberg press. My thanks to the local historical society for preserving this article!

Of course, it is impossible to track the movements of Andrew and John Frame after they disembarked in Bundaberg. As a condition of their free passage, they had an obligation to work in Queensland for one year after their arrival, but could work wherever and for whomever they wished, as long as they remained in that colony. They would have been given free accommodation for a few days after landing, and also provided with information on seeking employment. At five times the size of the United Kingdom, and with residents totalling around 340,000 at that time, Queensland must have seemed vast and sparsely populated to Andrew and John.

It is not known exactly how long the Frame brothers stayed up North or where they were employed. What we do know for certain is that by 1886, three years after arriving in Bundaberg, Andrew Paterson Frame was living at Maitland in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, which is still home to some of his descendants.  Andrew's brother John had moved to Sydney where he remained a bachelor and worked as a labourer until he died in 1896.

________________

 Sources:

James Halliday, Scotland, A Concise History, Steve Savage Publishers Ltd London, 1990

Lloyds Shipping Register

NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages