Cirrus@Austlit

19th-Century Australian Travel Writing

James Allen—(1806-1886) editor of the South Australian Register, South Australian Magazine, and Royal South Australian Almanac—presents the emigrant guide South Australia As It Is and How To Get To It.  An advertisement notes that, following Allen's lectures on South Australia in England, he was besieged with questions respecting the colony and wrote this work to provide a permanent impression of the colony. Allen details introductory geographical notes of each Australian country; provides an general description of South Australia and its towns; describes the fruits and produces of the colony; lists the different mining opportunities including lead, copper, silver, and gold; and also lists statistics including population, religion, education, provision, and rents. Allen concludes with information on how to get to South Australia as well as a list of those people eligible to emigrate to the colony. These people include: agricultural labourers, shepherds, miners, female domestic servants, some blacksmiths, wheelwrights, and carpenters. All must be capable of labour with the intent to work in the colony; or should intend to buy land or invest in trade. He recommends that emigrants should be married couples not above the age of 40.