In 1850, the Emigrant became the second ship to bring government-assisted free settlers directly from the UK to Moreton Bay. Tragically, typhus broke out on board, killing many of the travellers. The remainder were quarantined in dreadful conditions on Stradbroke Island for almost four months, during which time many more of the immigrants and two doctors attending them died. Jane Smith’s book Ship of Death tells the story of the voyage, the quarantine and the aftermath, focusing on a handful of the key players and bringing their stories to life. In this session she will outline her approach to researching the episode and the characters, explaining her strategy, her sources, and her method of selecting and organising her findings into a coherent structure.
Presenter: Jane Smith - author
Researching the Emigrant: Ship of Death
