A Norwegian Waltz
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A Norwegian Waltz Norwegian Immigration and Settlement in Queensland 1870-1914 Fredrik Larsen Lund Master thesis in History. University of Oslo, Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History. Submitted April 2012. Entering the township of The residence of unknown Anders Pedersen Bjerke, Eidsvold, Queensland, in Norwegians, probably in the born in Vang, Norway, February 2011 when the Brisbane area, built in married Severine Louisa author visited. Eidsvold was contemporary style. There Klæstad from Kristiania in established as a sheep appears to be a Norwegian Townsville in 1882. This station in 1848 by brothers flag hoisted from the flag photo is taken a few years Charles and Thomas Archer pole in front of the building. later, probably in Croydon. whose parents had migrated The picture is probably from Pictured are Severine and from Scotland to Larvik in the 1880s or 1890s. PHOTO Anders with their children Norway a generation earlier. COURTESY OF GERD-BIRGIT Albert (left), Clara, Alma and PHOTO BY AUTHOR. TJOMSLAND. Matilda. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARILYN SMITH. A Norwegian Waltz The title A Norwegian Waltz alludes not to a dance, but to the meaning of the word ‘waltz’ within the context of the Australian bush, expressing a way of travelling about, epitomised by the song Waltzing Matilda, Australia’s best known folk song. Waltzing Matilda was in fact written in the Queensland bush by A. B. (Banjo) Paterson and performed for the first time in Winton, 1895, during difficult times just a decade or two after several hundred Norwegian immigrants had arrived in the colony. Indeed the expression ‘to waltz matilda’ means to carry a bundle of your personal possessions as you travel the roads; ‘matilda’ being one of several names given to the swag or pack carried by itinerant workers in Australia in the 19th and early 20th century. iii Prelude I have gathered these stories afar, In the wind and the rain, In the land where the cattle camps are, On the edge of the plain. On the overland routes of the west, When the watches were long, I have fashioned in earnest and jest These fragments of song. They are just the rude stories one hears In sadness and mirth, The records of wandering years, And scant is their worth Though their merits indeed are but slight, I shall not repine, If they give you one moment’s delight, Old comrades of mine. Written by Australian poet A. B. (Banjo) Paterson and published in The Man from Snowy River & Other Verses, 1895. iv Acknowledgements This thesis could not have been written without the help of a long list of individuals. Firstly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor at the University of Oslo, Professor Knut Kjeldstadli. His constructive, friendly and efficient feedback and advice has been invaluable to me throughout the entire process. To steer my project on to the right track, I am also grateful for suggestions from Dr. Olavi Koivukangas, Turku, as well as historian Robert Ørsted Jensen, Brisbane. Furthermore, I would like to extend warm thanks to Dr. Jonathan Richards, Griffith University, who sent me source material from his own collection and eagerly spent a whole day teaching me the ropes at the Queensland State Archives. Many archives, libraries and historical collections have been helpful, but I would like to express particular gratitude to the staff at the Norwegian Museum of Emigration, Hamar, and the Cairns Historical Society. A number of genealogical and family history societies published information about my project in their journals and newsletters. Consequently, I was able to get in touch with people who were in possession of relevant source material. For this I should thank DIS-Norge (Slekt og Data), Queensland Family History Society (Ms. Dawn Montgomery), Genealogical Society of Queensland (Ms. Barbara Robinson) and Australian Family Tree Connections. Stories from the NRK radio show Dette fikser P1 and the Norwegian program on SBS Radio in Australia were also helpful. Numerous private individuals have kindly spent time and resources to assist me. For the past year and a half I have corresponded almost daily with Mr. Mervyn Hopton in Buxton. He has a relentless interest in certain aspects of local Queensland history, and Mervyn has given me much useful advice and directed me to many interesting pieces of source material. Thank you also for your hospitality during my visit in October 2011. The Scottish-Norwegian Archer family has a prominent position in Queensland history. In the process of gaining knowledge of the family’s rich history, I received invaluable help from Mr. James Ronald Archer, Larvik, and Mr. Per B. Jørgensen, Drøbak. In February 2011 I visited the Eidsvold Station, founded by Charles and Thomas Archer in 1848, and Gracemere, the Archers’ Queensland hub since 1855. I am grateful for the help and hospitality afforded me by Pauline and Bruce Forster, Ms. Cath Archer, Mr. Russel Archer, Dr. Lorna McDonald, Sally and Anthony Coates, Ms. Dot Hamilton, Ms. Amanda Hope (Eidsvold Library) and Ms. Fay Griffiths (Rockhampton & District Historical Society). Furthermore, during my two research trips to Queensland, I have had the pleasure of being invited to several people’s homes. Not only have I been given access to relevant v material such as documents and photos, I have also been extended true Australian hospitality. I would like to thank Mr. Odd-Steinar Dybvad Raneng in Southport, Ms. Ann Augusteyn at the Capricorn Caves, Ms. Margaret Buchanan in Booval, Mr. Patrick Andersen in Brisbane as well as Simone and Karen Cody in Brisbane. The list goes on: Several individuals have sent me e-mails and letters, or met with me in person, relating information which has been directly or indirectly used in this thesis (see sources and references where relevant). Therefore, I would also like to show my appreciation to: Mr. Gunnar Aabøe, Dr. Bob Anderssen and Mr. John Anderssen, Mr. Severin Berner Andreassen (III), Ms. Diane Cheetham, Mr. David Clark, Ms. Joan Connor, Ms. Des Dun, Mr. Brian Euhus, Ms. Anne-Line Grimsbo, Mr. Leslie H. Halvorsen, Ms. Cate Harley, Ms. Genevieve Isbell, Mr. Clive Jacobsen, Mr. Steinar Johansen (Norwegian Club of Queensland), Ms. Marit Myhre, Ms. Pip Peck, Ms. Marilyn Smith, Mr. Steffen Sætereie, Ms. Gerd-Birgit Tjomsland, Ms. Robyn Wiltshire and Ms. Carol Woodrow. When I was nearing completion of this project, Pastor Stephen G. Nuske at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Brisbane kindly shared his insights into Scandinavian religious life. My apologies if any names have been omitted from the list. I had the great pleasure of travelling to Queensland twice in 2011 as well as visiting archives and museums in Norway and Sweden, trips that could never have taken place without financial support from the Department of Archaeology, History and Conservation at the University of Oslo and a grant from the Eckbo Foundation. Also, I owe thanks to my employer Aftenposten and particularly to my boss John Einar Sandvand for being flexible and giving me the opportunity to do freelance work while I have been on study leave. Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge the work of Pål Jørgen Bakke who has proof read my writings and ensured that the English used in this thesis is reasonably comprehensible. Last, but definitely not least, my wife Ingrid K. Lund deserves great thanks and much appreciation for her support and patience during my time as a student. In fact, it was her observations that started off this project in the first place. Ingrid also read draft chapters and offered constructive, to-the-point feedback, as always. Although I am tremendously grateful for all this help, allow me to state the obvious: The author is solely responsible for the content of this thesis, including any flaws or mistakes. OSLO, APRIL 2012. FREDRIK LARSEN LUND. Do you have information about Norwegian immigrants in Australia? Even though this thesis is now submitted I still have an interest in the topic. Feel free to e-mail me: [email protected]. vi Table of contents Prelude iv Acknowledgements v Table of contents vii List of tables ix List of figures x List of abbreviations used in footnotes xi Map of Queensland and its Norwegian settlement (figure 0.1) xii Chapter 1 – Introduction 1 Historical context 1 Research questions: scope and perspectives 3 Theoretical approach 5 Historiography and research status 7 Sources and research methods 9 Overview of sources and methods 9 A note on currency 19 Outline of the rest of the thesis 19 Chapter 2 – Why Queensland? 20 From the Norwegians’ perspective 20 The general pull: Gold, land and good wages 21 Opportunity to join family or relatives 23 The specific opportunity: Assisted migration 24 Pull-reducing factors 27 From a Queensland perspective 30 Motives for welcoming Norwegian immigration 31 Scandinavians to fill German ships 32 Opposition to Scandinavian immigration 33 Norwegians as proposed indentured workers 35 Conclusion 36 Chapter 3 – Entering new territory 37 The number of Norwegian arrivals 37 Four periods of arrival 39 Reception and first steps in a new country 44 Assisted migrants from deck to depot 45 Finding the first job 47 Hidden migrants: Deserted seamen 49 Independent migrants 51 Conclusion 52 Chapter 4 – Making a living 53 Occupational structure among the Norwegians 53 Overview of occupations among men 54 Occupations among women 60 Modes of occupational integration 61 Conclusion 76 vii Chapter 5 – The Norwegian settlement 77 General overview: size, age and sex distribution 77 Sex and age distribution 78