G'day Bob, A couple of Observations ! Two distinct facilities existed.. 1. Immigrant Depot- Situated nr Spencer & Lt Bourke Essentially as a short term" labour agency" or transitory accommodation for Passengers awaiting passage to other ports. ( Charges/Conditions would be very much dependant on the period) "Upon their arrival, the Hopes were permitted to remain in an immigrant depot after they had disembarked. In Melbourne these were situated in King Street, Princes Bridge, Carlton and Batman's Hill, although it is not known where the Hopes stayed. They were allowed to stay until they had secured employment, but this usually involved a maximum stay of around 10 days. Strict rules governed this accommodation which forbade alcohol, fraternisation and fires and lights after 9.00pm. The inmates could not refuse a job offer and were expected to rise at 7.00am for muster and perform given duties till breakfast at 9.00am. Usually the rest of the day was free. Disobedience of these rules meant dismissal from the depot. Several passengers on board the /S.S. Atalanta/ were dismissed from the depot, some being absent from the morning muster and some for being drunk." 2. Immigrants Home(s) Initially Drummond/Rathdowne Sts/Elm Tree Place Sth Carlton and Later St Kilda Rd opposite the old Police Barracks(Grant St) largely for people "Down on their Luck" Fascination Reading... The Vagabond Papers ** <http://www.elizabethsbookshop.com.au/product_detail.php?pg=7&id=147>*VAGABOND* *PAPERS*, THE - James, John Stanley; ed by Michael Cannon Melbourne University Press - Hope this is a help... bfn John Bob Cunning wrote: >Hello, I am trying to find out some information on Immigration depots in Melbourne. For a man ''going on own means'' his wife and family, was there a linit as to how long they could stay in the depot. Also, were they charged a rental? > >Cheers, Bob in Melbourne > > >============================== >View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find >marriage announcements and more. Learn more: >http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx > >. > > > -- John Whitehand West Footscray 3012 Australia http://www.vicnet.net.au/~whitehaj/welcome.htm "Competition destroys ~ 'tis Co-operation that achieves"

Hello John. Thanks very much for your informative message, that give me a start. Cheers, Bob in Melbourne ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Whitehand" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 1:30 AM Subject: Re: [AUS-IMM-SHIPS] Immigration depots > G'day Bob, > A couple of Observations ! > Two distinct facilities existed.. > 1. Immigrant Depot- Situated nr Spencer & Lt Bourke Essentially as a > short term" labour agency" or transitory accommodation for Passengers > awaiting passage to other ports. ( Charges/Conditions would be very much > dependant on the period) > "Upon their arrival, the Hopes were permitted to remain in an immigrant > depot after they had disembarked. In Melbourne these were situated in > King Street, Princes Bridge, Carlton and Batman's Hill, although it is > not known where the Hopes stayed. They were allowed to stay until they > had secured employment, but this usually involved a maximum stay of > around 10 days. Strict rules governed this accommodation which forbade > alcohol, fraternisation and fires and lights after 9.00pm. The inmates > could not refuse a job offer and were expected to rise at 7.00am for > muster and perform given duties till breakfast at 9.00am. Usually the > rest of the day was free. Disobedience of these rules meant dismissal > from the depot. Several passengers on board the /S.S. Atalanta/ were > dismissed from the depot, some being absent from the morning muster and > some for being drunk." > 2. Immigrants Home(s) Initially Drummond/Rathdowne Sts/Elm Tree Place > Sth Carlton and Later St Kilda Rd opposite the old Police > Barracks(Grant St) largely for people "Down on their Luck" > Fascination Reading... The Vagabond Papers > ** > <http://www.elizabethsbookshop.com.au/product_detail.php?pg=7&id=147>*VAGABO ND* > *PAPERS*, THE - James, John Stanley; ed by Michael Cannon Melbourne > University Press - > > > Hope this is a help... > bfn > John