Summary

Letter from Mrs R.J. (Hazel) Selby, of 185 Model Village, Creswell, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, undated, to Mr and Mrs Ward, at 239 Tooronga Road Glen Iris. In this letter, a reply to correspondence from Mrs Ward, Mrs Selby describes her family and their circumstances in England and looks forward to emigrating to Australia. The Ward family had emigrated earlier and had by this time become members of Burke Road East Malvern Methodist Church and had moved in to their own home at 239 Tooronga Road, Glen Iris in 1962.

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

Letter handwritten in red ink, single-sided on seven sheets of lined blue notepaper, with an accompanying pre-printed white airmail envelope with red, white and blue diagonal striped edging and handrwitten address in red ink - postage stamp and envelope corner torn off.

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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