Many thanks for that Ada I have an ancestor John MURRAY who disappeared from Wedderburn c late 1880s He was a miner the aged abt 60 ..has been the bane of my life..I'll check out WA. Also missing , his sons Andrew Henry and David... groan Hope it wasn't to South Africa Judy Qld > > Hello listers, > > Researching the terms of the original old-age pensions in Victoria, > 1900-1908, I had need to refer to the "Victorian Year Book 1903" on the > "Social Condition". > > In a reference to the drop in marriages in Victoria, the following > observation: > > Between 1891-1901 [remember this was a massive depression time] an efflux > of single men to Western Australia and South Africa.