Driven from the Scottish Highlands
Many of those living in the Scottish highlands were crofters. They leased small plots of land on which they were allowed to build a small dwelling and to grow all they needed to feed their families. As in Ireland and some other parts of Europe, our Scots found that potatoes produced good crops in the relatively poor soil. But in 1846-47, the potato blight that had devastated Ireland (where a million ultimately starved to death) had made its way to the Scottish Highlands. Almost overnight, the crofters did not have enough food to feed their families.
To make matters worse, the landowners increased rents in an attempt to force the crofters off their land. They wanted to open up the land to the more lucrative grazing, but this meant the crofters had to go.
Most crofters were left starving and penniless and their plight was desperate.
Drawn to Booming Victoria
The British Colonial Land and Emigration Commission was set up in 1840. Its aim was to encourage skilled workers to emigrate to the Colonies, where their efforts would ultimately benefit Britain.
The commission they sold off unwanted land in their colonies, then used that money to assist people prepared to settle and work in those colonies. It was quite successful, and throughout the 1840s the wool industry in Australia and particularly Victoria, was booming. All the wool was shipped off to the Yorkshire woollen mills. A lot of people were employed. Wool growers, mill owners, shipping companies and financial investors were all making good money. But all that changed in 1851 with the discovery of gold. With seemingly every able bodied person heading to the Victorian gold fields, farms were deserted. All those with a vested interest in the wool industry were anxious about the upcoming 1852 wool clip which would be about 8000 tonnes. Letters were sent to London demanding that something be done.
To some, the solution was obvious. There were thousands of highland Scots keen to work and with no food, and in Victoria there was plenty of food but no one to work on the farms. The rules of the emigration scheme were quickly adjusted so that unlike previously, families with several young children were now allowed, and even encouraged, to migrate. The thinking was that a person in that situation was less likely to abandon their children and run off to the gold fields.
The highland Scots were thrown a lifeline. They could have cheap passage to a land with an abundance of food and work. But in return, they had to sell up, say goodbye forever to any family they left behind, and risk a three month journey to relocate to the other side of the world.
In the choice between emigrate and starve, many thousands chose to emigrate.