Item 01: George Alfred Norton Russell diary, 1872

MLMSS 9671/Folder 1

item

1872

Textual Records, Prints

941023

0.05 metres of textual material, includes some prints (1 folder) - manuscript, printed

George Russell diary, 1872. Manuscript in red bound volume, 273 pages.

Diary commences in Sydney, 6th April, 1872 and ends Sydney, 25th December 1872. George Russell describes the sea voyage from Sydney on board the ‘Brucklay Castle’ to London, his sight-seeing travels in England, and the return journey home to Sydney on board the ‘Parramatta’.

He travelled with his wife Elizabeth (Lizzie) and their 9 month old daughter, Beatrice. The trip was undertaken on medical advice for Elizabeth who suffered from tuberculosis. On the 5th July she died and was buried at sea. Her death and burial are sadly described by George who only had his diary to record his tragic loss. On the voyage home he almost suffered the loss of his baby daughter due to high fever. In addition to these events he also describes the daily events of ship life, the personalities of his fellow travellers, the difficulty of sleeping in the top bunk in a long nightie, ducks swimming on deck, and seeing the Southern Lights of the Aurora Australis. The diary has drawings of the layout of the ship and several cuttings of images of his sight-seeing in London, including churches, museums and the zoo, which he describes in detail, and the adventure of travelling on the underground railway.

Copyright status:: In copyright
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales