Summary

Pay/Hire certificate issued to J. Stegelman in 1909. It states he will be employed on the ship 'Narnia' for eight months as a carpenter. The voyage will begin on 21 October 1909 at 'Vulcan Dock' Altona and will sail along the West Coast via England.

Description of Content

Pay/Hire certificate issued by agent of Shipping Firm for J Stegelmann to work as a carpenter on ship 'Narnia' for 8 months from 21/10/09 along West Coast via England. Starting at 'Vulcan Dock' Altona.

Physical Description

Yellowing paper with black printed text. Personal details in black pen. All in German.

Significance

Johannes Stegelman's story is a great example of more unorthodox migration. Jumping ship was a common way to start a new life in Australia, especially for sailors on merchant ships, and dates back to the 1850s gold rush with sailors jumping ship to head for the goldfields (John Simpson Kirkpatrick of 'Simpson and his donkey' fame arrived in Australia by jumping ship). Stegelman's objects all relate to his career in both the German Navy and the merchant navy including the hire document that brought him to Australia. The story is also interesting for its cross-cultural marriage and the bringing together of two very different migrant stories from different periods in time.

Gladys Leichti's objects and story represents the push to attract young British girls for domestic service in the 1920s and the role of philanthropic organizations such as the Salvation Army in meeting this demand.

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