Alexr Dick _Letter No. 28_ from Belfast, Victoria, Australia, 1856

This is the second letter sent to son Alex after Alexr and his younger two sons, William and John, arrived in Western Victoria at 'Belfast' (now Port Fairy). He notes the jobs that some of the 'Euphrates' passengers have been able to obtain. William has a job on a bridge on Yuille's Creek, which I cannot find on any maps; the only reference I can find is a goldfield of the time at Buninyong, a little south of Ballarat.

I have marked the 3 main places mentioned (Belfast/Port Fairy, Ballarat and Geelong) on these maps - one from 1860, the other recent:

Here is the letter:

Letter #28 to son Alex in Ballarat                 

                             Belfast, Victoria, 4th.Dec'r 1856

My Dear Son,

We received yours from Geelong. We were right after all expecting there was a letter for us in the post office here. We enquired several times but he had no letter. I showed the post office keeper your letter stating there was a registered letter lying here for us. He then looked about and got it and I have got the ten pounds. I expect Alex'r Wilson will make all right with the £50 sent to Busby. I spoke to him before I came away and gave him sixpence to pay the postage and he promised to see all made right.

William had engaged for a month at £2 per week and rations at the building of a bridge at Yuille's Creek, I set out Monday morning to see if he could get away. It is to be a good stone bridge, but there is no joiner there but himself. He is making the centreing for throwing up the arch and he will get away as soon as that is done. Yuille's Creek is 28 miles from Belfast so I saw a small bit of Australia.

We would have gone on to Geelong when we arrived here but that we were assured this was a better part of the country for work & wages than Geelong. So we thought it better to wait for advice from Geelong before we were at the expense of going thither and so we have been rather put about. John will get away as soon as William comes down and I expect we will sail on either Tuesday or Friday next week.

I need not say that I share in your disappointment at missing the meeting at Geelong. We all feel it as a common calamity. We can only indulge the hope that there is a good time coming. I am very proud that you have been so successful as to be able to remit us £60 and I trust you have a good sum over for yourself as it would not do well for a digger to be bare of cash. We can only express our thankfulness for your generous conduct, and indulge the hope we may all be worthy of being so generously treated.

The young girls that came in the ship have been mostly engaged by families in Belfast, £25 per annum was the highest wages. One ploughman that went to Warrnambool got 70£. Here 52 & 54 and so on. Another printer that came out in the 'Euphrates' went as shepherd at £35.

Mr. Leckie gave me a very flattering and pressing invitation to come over and be his guest in Geelong till Jack &. William got clear. I am very proud of the honour thereby conferred on me and I feel some inclination to accept too. But I resolved to tarry until we all sail and I hope your brothers will find satisfactory employment in Geelong. The demand for fronting (?) at Ballarat will not last long I doubt and I hope I will in with a suitable job that we may soon be able to purchase the ground J. Leckie has laid out for us. We will likely have matters turned over face to face by & by.

I am, Your Affectionate Father,

Alex'r Dick.

Names & Notes on Letter #28

Alex'r Wilson

Ship 'Euphrates'

J. Leckie

- transcription and Names/Notes by Ian A Scales, c.1989