Cirrus@Austlit

19th-Century Australian Travel Writing

Rev. James Baird, B.A., published The Emigrant's Guide to Australasia: Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland as a guide for intending emigrants. This was later supplemented by Baird's The Emigrant's Guide to Australasia: Tasmania and New Zealand (1871). The two books together, according to Baird, form a useful guide to emigrating to the Australian colonies and beyond. This work describes the physical features, climate, productions, urban centres and prospects for emigrants in New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland. It also features a delightful description of the dancer and performer Lola Montez at the Ballarat goldfields.