Applications for assisted passage by agricultural labourers

This series comprises the applications and related records of assisted passage agricultural labourers who migrated to South Australia between 1911 and 1914. These files were maintained by the immigration section of the Intelligence and Tourist Bureau, with information forwarded by the South Australian Emigration Agent in the United Kingdom.

Access Conditions

A Research Centre Members card, obtainable at the Archives, is required to research records held at State Records.

Although some very early records relating to children in care in South Australia are open for access, most records relating to children are subject to a 100 year restriction, particularly those which contain personal information about individuals. Written permission must be obtained from the government agency which created the record in order to access restricted material. To obtain permission a Freedom of Information (FOI) request form must be submitted to the relevant government department. State Records staff will be able to assist you with this.

Records

The records are foolscap sized papers, fixed together with file clips or split pins, each with a title page recording the following details:

– Surname and Given names
– Date of Arrival
– Name of Ship
– Name of Employer
– Address of Employer
– Remarks

Each file then contains the application form which records: Name, Address, Age, Date of Birth, Height, Weight, Employment History (with references attached), Medical Certificate, Medical History and Parent or Guardian’s Authority.

The files also contain related correspondence including letters from the applicant and employer, apprenticeship agreements and accounts relating to wages. This correspondence generally post dates the arrival of the applicant.

The records are arranged in numerical order, except for a brief period in 1913 when they were arranged by annual single number. There are several files missing from the sequence.