Summary

Minute book and associated papers for the Bring Out A Briton Committee of the Methodist Church Burke Road, East Malvern, kept by the Secretary, Mr. Alexander George Barlow between 8 July 1959 and 15 March 1972. The book contains minutes of the committee, financial reports for the church's migrant house, details of committee members, notes on tenants of the migrant house and the register of shares or loans made by church members for funding the scheme. The book also contains loose pages comprising two letters from Ruth Ramsden, from one of the migrant families, dated 19 January 1968 and 12 May 1969; an invitation proforma for Immigration Sunday 25 February 1968 and miscellaneous notes.

Part of a large collection of material relating to the migration and settlement of British migrants to Australia in the 1960s under the 'Bring Out a Briton' Scheme. It documents in particular both the migration experiences of James and Mary Ward and their three children who arrived in Melbourne on the 'TSS Stratheden' from Yorkshire in December 1961; and the Burke Road East Malvern Methodist Church's sponsorship of a number of English families, including the Wards, under the Scheme. The Church's support included temporary accommodation for assisted families in a neighbouring house. The 'Bring Out a Briton' Scheme (1957-1982) was part of a Commonwealth Government initiative which offered subsidised ship fares, accommodation and support to encourage migration from the UK to Australia after World War II.

Physical Description

Bound, foolscap 'Pencraft' minute book with brown card covers, a red linen-tape spine and containing lined pages, with hand-written entries in predominantly blue ink.

Significance

The Ward/Barlow Families collection is of national significance in documenting British assisted migration to Australia post-World War II. The collection provides a comprehensive snapshot from the commencement to completion of a British assisted migration experience and illuminates post-war immigration policies and procedures which favoured British immigration into Australia.

The collection of almost 400 items comprises a unique body of documentation with intersections between personal, community and government narratives that explore British post-World War II assisted migration. It includes photographs, personal correspondence, documents and objects offering a rare glimpse into the role of the Australian and British governments, Methodists Church sponsorship and community engagement in assisting and welcoming British immigrants to Australia. Assisted British migration was a constant theme of Australian immigration history until the early 1980s. Government initiatives such as the 'Bring Out A Briton' scheme had an enormous impact on the composition and size of the Australian population, making the Ward/Barlow collection of broad social and political historical significance.

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