Summary

Diary written by David Yuile who came to Victoria via New Zealand from Scotland on 21 September 1872, for his health. The diary contains daily entries which describe his departure, voyage, weeks in New Zealand, arrival in Victoria and life there until the diary abruptly ends on 9 May 1874.

Yuile's descriptions of life in Melbourne during the 1870s are particularly engaging, with references to rowing regattas, visits to the library, gallery and museum, domestic and cultural entertainments, sporting events such as the Melbourne Cup and cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

David Yuile was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 24 April 1849, the son of a wine merchant. Suffering from a chronic respiratory condition, his doctors recommended a long sea voyage and in September 1872, at 23 years of age, David boarded the 'City of Dunedin' headed for Dunedin in New Zealand. He arrived in Otago Bay on 30 December 1872 and remained in Dunedin, living on board the ship, until 25 January 1873 when he left for Melbourne on the 'SS Albion'. He arrived in Melbourne on 6 February 1873 where he stayed with his cousins the Hendersons at 'Myrtle Bank' on the Maribyrnong River in Footscray. He seems to have suffered bouts of ill health but spent his time planting trees and a vegetable garden at Myrtle Bank and assisting the family with business affairs. He was also involved in rowing regattas on the Maribyrnong.

On 21 November 1876 David married Martha Miller in Yarraville. By this time David was engaged in importing art and also had shares in the Australian Ruby Company. The couple had five daughters all born in Footscray, but at the time of David's death the family was living in Camberwell. David died on 12 January 1889 of consumption at the age of 39 and was buried in Kew. He left Martha and his five daughters aged from 3 to 11 years well provided for.

Physical Description

391 page quarto size book with lined pages and blue leather cover and black leather spine. 147 pages completed with script and illustrations with 244 pages left blank. Inside cover has label for 'John Cree Junr & Co., Wholesale Stationers, 17 & 21 Exchange square Glasgow'. Entries are written on both sides of the pages and also includes hand drawings of ship cabin layouts and topographical renderings of coastlines, including Victoria. Also contains: 1 letter dated 10/10/1872 from David Yuile to Mr McClure in Dunedin NZ during ship voyage (presumably not sent); 1 loose empty envelope addressed to :'David Yuile Esq, 9 Hopetoun Place Glasgow Scotland' (father); 1 piece of paper inscribed with a poem; 1 newspaper clipping relating to the Intercolonial Gig Race between Victoria and New South Wales in Sydney; 1 blue piece lined paper dated 4/4/1874 and addressed to Mr Yuell (sic) Footscray from John Campbell challenging his crew to row the Regatta course on 25th April; and 2 scraps of paper; 1 with 2 UK addresses on 1 side and list of dates and sea voyage events on the other 7 the other diary notes.

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