Summary
Letter dated 27/3/1963 from the Chief Migration Officer of the Office of the High Commissioner for Australia to John Myerscough, stating his application for settlement in Australia under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme has been approved. the state chosen for settlement was Victoria. The letter was part of the application and acceptance process for the Myerscough's to migrate from England to Australia in 1963 and kept as a souvenir of their migration experiences.
John and Doreen Myerscough migrated to Australia from Liverpool in England with their daughters Jill and Julie on 20 November 1963. Searching for greater opportunities and with savings behind them, they took advantage of the Australian Government's 'Nest Egg Scheme'. They were also assisted ten pound migrants. The family sailed on the P&O Orient Line SS Canberra and settled in Melbourne where the climate was said to be similar to that of England. They transferred directly to Altona Migrant Hostel and ended up staying there (most unusually) for two years. John worked on the Geelong-Melbourne oil pipeline, in construction, and as a sub-contractor all over Victoria installing ceilings. Doreen had another baby Paul and later worked at Rothman's cigarette factory in Brooklyn. The couple purchased a block of land in Melton, promoted as a growth suburb, but the potential for isolation, as well as the couple's inability to really get ahead, made them decide to give up the dream and return to England. They paid their full fares, sold their land and returned to Liverpool on the P&O Orient Line SS Oriana on 21 January 1966. However, the challenges they experienced inspired them to strive and succeed, and John and Doreen have subsequently become frequent tourist visitors to Australia.
Physical Description
Soft paper letter. One page. Letterhead has black printed text. Letter in black type. Official stamp in red.
Significance
The Myerscough migration documents collection offers the unique opportunity to record the experiences of a migrant family who returned home. It is extremely difficult to capture the narratives of the people for whom migration was a negative or unsuccessful experience and who cut their losses and left. Return migration by its very nature is challenging to document through memory and material culture from the receiving country as people tend to be geographically distant, as well as frequently reluctant to record their negative experiences often accompanied by a sense of failure.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Mrs Doreen Myerscough, Mr John Myerscough, 17 Jan 2007
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Issued To
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Inscriptions
Text: OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR AUSTRALIA/CHIEF MIGRATION OFFICER/AUSTRALIA HOUSE/STRAND/LONDON W.C.2/27th March, 1963/Application by: Mr. J. MYERSOUGH/Wife & 2 children./Dear Sir/You will be pleased to learn that your application for settlement/in Australia under the terms of the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme has/been approved on the terms of the application lodged by you for the/persons shown in the address of this letter. [extensive text]
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Brand Names
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Classification
Migration, Processing - planning & departure, Correspondence
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
32.8 cm (Length), 20.2 cm (Width)
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Keywords
Migrant Hostels, Nest Egg Scheme, Return Migration, Shipping Lines