Upheaval
By 1848 Ireland had suffered three years of diseased potato crops, bitter winters and meagre relief efforts. Starving and unable to pay rent, village and farming communities plunged into poverty. Evictions sent many to workhouses, where deserted women and orphaned children made up most of the inmates. Over a million Irish died during the famine years. One in five deaths occurred in a workhouse.
In Australia, decades of convict transportation had left the colonies with a serious shortage of women. Teenage girls were vital for raising families while female servants and workers were needed in aspiring colonial households.
Initially, Earl Grey, Britain's Secretary for the Colonies, proposed to ship equal numbers of boys and girls from pauper institutions across Britain to Australia. Once the scheme was under way, however, only adolescent unmarried girls from Ireland Were despatched. The English government and Irish Poor Law saw Unions shared transport costs: both saw orphan emigration as an ideal solution to the problems of famine relief and the colony’s need for workers and mothers.
In Australia, decades of convict transportation had left the colonies with a serious shortage of women. Teenage girls were vital for raising families while female servants and workers were needed in aspiring colonial households.
Initially, Earl Grey, Britain's Secretary for the Colonies, proposed to ship equal numbers of boys and girls from pauper institutions across Britain to Australia. Once the scheme was under way, however, only adolescent unmarried girls from Ireland Were despatched. The English government and Irish Poor Law saw Unions shared transport costs: both saw orphan emigration as an ideal solution to the problems of famine relief and the colony’s need for workers and mothers.