This letter reflects the language, assumptions, and prejudices of the colonial era. Some passages contain descriptions of people that are offensive by contemporary standards. This language is reproduced here exactly as printed, because this is a historical primary source document. It does not reflect the views of this website or its researcher.
On January 25, 1854 Johann Conrad Weickhardt arrived in Sydney on the "Cesar Goddfroy" after a voyage which began in Cuxhaven, Germany on October 5, 1853. Born in Butzbach, Hessen on 14.1.1829 to Butzbach Pewterer Johannes Weickhardt and Anna Katharina Huth, Conrad was fourth in order of birth of their eight children – three girls and five boys. Three of Conrad's siblings were also to migrate to Australia in the 1850s; Johannes Carl and Jakob Franz in 1855 and 1857 respectively and sister Sophie Katharina with her first husband Wilhelm Engelhardt1, following closely.
Conrad spent some months in Sydney before settling in Clunes, Victoria in 1856. In his first letter dated May 23, 1854, Conrad gave details of the voyage and of his impressions of Sydney. To other Butzbach people who were also migrating to Australia he offered sound, sensible advice on preparation for the voyage and specifically referred to 'traps' which they should avoid. His closing sentence is beautiful! It tells us a great deal about this young migrant who had left loved parents and siblings to start a new life in a strange and distant country. His letter finishes with warm greetings to the twelve people from Butzbach who would follow him in the same year.
Conrad's father, Johannes Weickhardt, handed the following letter to Moritz Kuhl2, proprietor of a Butzbach newspaper, for publication. It appeared on August 5, 1854 with a preamble by Kuhl:
"The flood of migrants from our town and vicinities seems to take a different route. America is no longer the first choice, but has been replaced by Australia as the most desired destination. About ten years ago a number of young men, all from Butzbach, had already migrated to Australia. Some of them lived in Sydney, some in Melbourne, but as far as I know only very little information came back to us. It was believed that they were getting along alright, but too little information about their new home reached the people of Butzbach and they lost contact (or interest). But this has changed since some healthy young men who immigrated last year from here and a neighbouring village3, have sent letters and money. Some of the news about their income have most certainly received with disbelief and suspicion because these stories must have sounded almost like fairy tales. But some fellow citizens returning to their home town have confirmed these reports. I will now attach the letter we received from the migrant, Conrad Weickhardt."
Sydney,
May 23, 1854.
Precious parents, brothers and sisters,
On October 5th we departed from Cuxhaven, the port of Hamburg; the sea was rough which caused seasickness almost immediately; I recovered already half an hour later but my friend Riegelhuth4 was completely unaffected; others suffered for six weeks. On October 6th we reached the Channel and because of favourable winds, we hit the Spanish Sea on the 11 of the same month. On October 26th we sighted the Canary Islands on our right and the next day we saw the island with the green foothills [Cape Verde Islands, off the West Coast of Africa, similar latitude to Dakar]. During daytime, temperatures were already rising high and we often experienced thunderstorms, but all way along we had strong winds. On some days we covered 70 to 80 miles.
On November 8th we passed the Equator; according to the custom we had to undergo the 'tropical baptism' and we enjoyed the free grog and wine. How many false rumours there are among the general public about the burning heat to be found along the Equator! Some people believe that the ship can only be kept from burning by constantly pouring water over it. Another tale is that the heads of passengers have to be smeared to prevent a heatstroke. In reality the heat between the tropics is not as exceptional as generally assumed. On November 16th we drove past the coast of America 150 miles away from the shore at the latitude of Rio de Janeiro. We had lost 5 hours, in other words, if it is 12 noon in Butzbach, it is 7am in our place. On November 19th we discovered the first doves from the Cape and the next day there were hordes of them. Now it started to to get colder. On November 24th we had snowfall and this continued up to December 15th. For that reason it is advisable to take along some warm clothes, which I myself missed bitterly.
On December 8th we saw Prince Edward Island on our left (48 degrees southern latitude). On our right there was a colossal iceberg, which originally had been part of the icecap surrounding the South Pole and was now floating in the sea. Because of stronger winds we followed the 53rd latitude. From December 15 onwards we experienced warmer temperatures and on Christmas the weather was very summery. On Christmas Eve the Captain [J. Meyer] was very generous; we consumed as much wine, grog etc., as we liked. On December 26th we met another ship which came from Sydney and was on its way to Calcutta. On December 30th we saw land, it was the so-called Kangaroo Island. Because of calm, we only reached the shipyard of Adelaide on January 2nd.
On January 4th, goods were taken ashore and as the calm continued we could not leave Adelaide until January 10th. On January 14th we drove past the dangerous cliffs along Cape Wilson [Wilson's Promontory] the southeastern tip of New Holland, they are numerous and jut out 200 to 300 feet. We almost perished in this place when the ship was sailing between two of those rocks and the wind suddenly changed direction; we were pushed towards one of the rocks and only through the Captain's extraordinary efforts could we escape an accident. On January 25th we entered the beautiful port of Sydney, Port Jackson. We immediately went ashore and after a lot of searching around we found our fellow countryman Rübsamen5 who was delighted to see us as we (Riegelhuth and myself) were the first people from Butzbach whom he had seen since Arnold Wendel's visit in 1843.
Already the next day I found work in a tannery and received 35 Schilling per week. Later on I earned 37 Schilling, accommodation included. For food I pay 8 Schl. Due to my economy I am able to send you 300 Schilling. Earning money is after all much easier than in Germany although I prefer German cooking.
Entertainment as we know it back home cannot be found in Sydney. Food is very expensive, meat in comparison is cheap. Beef costs 4 pence (1 Pence = 3 Kronen), mutton 6 P., pork 7 P., 1 pound of butter 2 Schl. 6 P., a cabbage the same, 2 pounds of bread 7 P. Linen is also expensive. Gold, silverware, as well as clothes are very cheap, therefore I recommend to you not to carry along too many clothes. The most beautiful cashmere shawls 2-3 P., a striped working shirt 2 Schl.
Workers on construction sites earn a lot of money; masons who only hew stones in a rough way earn 26 Schl. per day; masons who do fine carvings earn 30-36 Schl. per day. Bricklayers and carpenters 14-18 Schl. per day, bakers, butchers, tanners 3 Pounds (Pounds Sterling), blacksmiths 4-5 Pounds per week.
Whatever has to be imported by ship is usually imported from England or America; among other things, whole houses, the frames made from iron, the covering from zinc. These houses could be put up in a few days.
The depravation of the female sex is conspicuous; drunken women can often be found lying in the streets, others sit in pubs, smoke cigars or pipes and drink 4 to 5 glasses of brandy. In the morning dozens of women who have been found in the street at night in a drunken state, are expelled from police stations.
For the voyage I recommend to take along the following things: roast bread [crisp bread], several hams, good quality dried sausage, cheese, raspberry vinegar to mix with water and dried fruit. A lot of money can be made from taking along cigars, tobacco and rum. In Hamburg a bottle of rum costs 21 Kr. and was sold on the ship for 145 Kr. An apple costs 6 Kr.
Consul Kirchner returned to Germany on May 10 (1854). He wants to bring back 1500 Germans. However I advise you not to sign a contract with him because I have heard bitter complaints by those who have been hired by him. They had to work a whole year for only 20 Pounds Sterling and this went on for three consecutive years. As free workers, they could have earned ten to twenty times as much. So far, I do not feel like going to the diggings. Most of those who have been there return after having spent all their money.
My letter has turned out to be very detailed and I hope that it will satisfy your curiosity. And to those of you who want to turn their back to your native country, to which you are attached by friendship and love, in which your cradle stood, where you played children's games, in which you grew from an adolescent to a man, in which your hair was bleached — start and finish your trip in good spirits; free, happy and cheerful. May the heavens guide you.
Conrad Weickhardt