Jersey's Oz-based 'gold seekers' reconnect with Island past

Tuesday 25 July 2017

As many as 6,000 Jersey people rushed to Australia in the mid-1800s in a bid to seize a golden money-making opportunity. But now, over a century later, it seems that more and more of their ancestors are keen to reacquaint themselves with Island life.

According to Jersey Archives, more than half of their online catalogue users originated from outside of Jersey last year - with Australia the third biggest user behind Jersey and the UK. When it came to paid access to the online catalogue, meanwhile, Australians moved into second place behind the UK - generating more than 8.5% of all revenue.

The reason, perhaps, is likely something to do with a little-known tale of thousands of Jersey men and women who left the Rock to start a new life down in the midst of the 19th century Gold Rush.

As gold fever swept the world, some islanders were tempted as far afield as California in 1848. But it was Oz that truly took the eye of many, with its promise of potential opportunities for construction work, ownership of land - and a shiny ‘get rich quick’ incentive, as global currency was currently based on the shiny substance.

Pictured: Many of Jersey's biggest families were tempted across the seas by the sparkling promise of Gold Rush wealth.

The dazzling yellow element sparked an immigration surge worldwide, leading to new permanent settlements across Australian and North American frontiers.

Between 1852 and 1855, it was time for Jersey’s population to get their fill. Thousands of Jersey men and women, including from the still well-known Mauger, Noel, Amy, Renouf, Le Cornu, Cabot, Hamon, de la Haye, Romeril, de Gruchy and Le Quesne families, piled onto ships advertised in local newspapers taking them to a land of promise.

Addressed to all “gold-seekers”, an advert for one of the ships sailing from St Helier boasted an on-board surgeon, “first-rate accommodation”, “lofty ‘tween decks” and “provisions of the best quality.” 

Pictured: One of the adverts encouraging islanders to build a life down under that appeared in the local press at the time. (Jersey Archive)

“Emigrants to apply without delay,” it beckoned. 

But it wasn’t just economic migrants that made up Jersey’s new Aussie population - convicts too were transported from the Island, although those looking to escape the emerging economic downturn were in the majority.

The renewed interest in Jersey links in Australia comes off the back of a successful campaign to promote the Archives’ records abroad last year. They say the response has been “excellent”, having seen Jersey records listed in five major family history publications and a 30% increase in Aussie users this year.