Hi ferndale,
Did you end up finding the shipping records for Robert and Elizabeth? Hope so!
I see that (some of the) information already found out by RootsChatters about this couple and their descendants is on an earlier thread at:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,335132If I understand correctly you are looking for shipping records for the arrival in Australia (assuming that neither was born in Australia - which is not yet known) in 1854 (year of their marriage) or earlier, probably into Victoria (as they were married at Creswick, Vic) for:
Robert Elam PHARR
Elizabeth O'SULLIVAN (parents probably Michael & Bridget - from her possible death record in Bourke, NSW in 1897)
(birthplaces of neither yet known)
And perhaps also shipping records for Maria Agnes Theresa HIGGINS, born Ireland (who married Henry Hero PHARR in Queensland in 1885) and for her parents Fergus Henry James HIGGINS and Catherine KENNEDY (if they came to Australia).
(I note that there is the death of a Fergus HIGGINS in Coonabarabran, NSW in 1874; also of a Catherine HIGGINS same place in 1873. These might well be totally irrelevant.)
This started out (again if I understand correctly) from the annotation on the army papers of James Frederick FARR when he enlisted in 1914, that he was "born at sea" ca 1892 (and that his father was b Ballarat and mother b Ireland - neither named). I take it that you are thinking that James (parents probably Henry Hero PHARR & Maria Agnes Theresa HIGGINS) might have been born on a coastal steamer? Though I guess it's possible that his parents had travelled overseas (UK or NZ?) ...
All very complicated - apologies if I've misunderstood!
Very best of luck in your search,
Kind regards,
JAP