Melbourne's Unemployed During the 1890s Depression
Welcome to my web site! The site lists a sample of the 13,000 unemployed men who registered with the Government Labour Bureau in Melbourne from June to August 1892. The project is part of my PhD research into Melbourne during the 1890s depression that followed the 'Marvellous Melbourne' land boom. Many men had come from other states seeking employment. South Australia is particularly well represented as men (particularly those employed in the building related trades) fled the poor economic conditions that prevailed after years of devastating drought. Melbourne people also went to the Western Australian goldfields but many returned home when newspapers wrongly forecast an improvement in the job situation. These extra workers exacerbated and prolonged the depression that had devastating effects on many people. The winter of 1892 was very cold and wet and many destitute familes suffered greatly. Also to feature in the registers are men or families who were recent arrivals from overseas, or country areas. New arrivals were at a disadvantage as they lacked the support of family members and they were not part of the social networks in which work could often be found. Men from Tasmania and New South Wales also appear frequently in the registers, along with the occasional Queenslander.
If you find a relative on this page, I would appreciate your input. I am particularly interested in dates and places of birth of the men, their wives, and their children. I have transcribed the register entries for around 1700 men. The register gives details such as residential address, who the man last worked for, his occupation and some family details. Please contact me for these details.
The site is updated regularly so please come back and check for updates.
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Send E-mail to jnnyb@aol.com
