Thomas LOACH - Landed in Sydney on SS Ballarat in June 1926

[Oxcat1]

My grandfather, Thomas LOACH, landed in Sydney on 17 June 1926. He was on the SS Ballarat.

Can anybody help with two things:

1) I'd like to know more about the journey aboard the SS Ballarat. I know it left from London, but where? Were these voyages expensive? Where were they advertised? He was a 16 year old moulder from the West Midlands - how did he afford this crossing?

2) What did he do next? I know he became a cowboy, driving cattle across the Australian plains. I've seen photos of him with his horse and a kangaroo he rescued as a joey. Are there any good resources to find out more about this lifestyle? How would a newly-arrived 16 year old get into it?

Thanks

[judb]

Ancestry has quite a lot of information including photos of him and his wife.  You may be able to access Ancestry at a public library.

Judith

[CassT]

Hi. did Thomas return to the Uk, if so when.
 
 I am wondering the time period he was in Australia 1926 to?   have you any idea of the area he lived in Australia, for example which state.
you might try a search om TROVE https://trove.nla.gov.au/

regards Cass

[maddys52]

Welcome to RootsChat.

The Ballarat left from Gravesend for Sydney on 17 June 1926
(reported Friday,  June 18, 1926
Publication: The Daily Telegraph)

It arrived in Table Bay on 9 July 1926
(reported Tuesday,  July 13, 1926
Publication: The Daily Telegraph)

It arrived Fremantle on 26 July 1926
(reported    Wednesday,  July 28, 1926
Publication: The Daily Telegraph)

It arrived Adelaide on 2 August 1926
(reported    Thursday,  Aug. 5, 1926
Publication: The Daily Telegraph)

Arrived Melbourne 6 August 1926
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3800278

and finally arrived Sydney on 11 August 1926
(reported Friday,  Aug. 13, 1926
Publication: Aberdeen Journal )

It's quite likely he went under the Empire Settlement Act. Not sure how much it would have cost. On the return journey the fare on the Ballarat was advertised as £37-£45 single from Sydney to London.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/246355208

A picture and some details of arrival here:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/239854565
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222718927
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16321551
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/246350362

Various other mentions if you search trove:
https://trove.nla.gov.au

trove is also an excellent source you could use to find out more about his life in Australia.

[maddys52]

It's quite likely he went under the Empire Settlement Act.

As there were 64 "Dreadnought Boys" on the voyage, he may well have been part of that scheme. It seems to fit with his later career.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadnought_scheme

An interesting blog here:
https://thedreadnoughtboys.blogspot.com/

https://www.bbmaustralia.org.au/dreadnought-scheme

[sparrett]

Hi. As Cass mentioned there is a possibility that Thomas returned to UK in 1931.

He was 22 and a farmhand going per Orontes to London
His address would be in Bromwich where, I note, he was living in the last UK census sighting.
Sue

[Neale1961]

I think it is very probable that Thomas was a Dreadnought Boy.
His father had died when Thomas was very young, and his mother had remarried. It may not have been easy or happy staying in the “family” home after that.

News item from Sept 1924, announcing 60 boys a month to NSW.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/95787005?searchTerm=Dreadnought%20boys

If you do a search in British Newspaper Archives for “Dreadnought Scheme” you will see the kind of information that your grandfather would have read, which lead to his application to the scheme.

Some more detail here. Search with “Dreadnought Scheme”.
See 2nd and 3rd items. Click on photos to enlarge.
https://mhnsw.au/collections/state-archives-collection/

[maddys52]

Yes, lots of articles about the Dreadnought Scheme in British newspapers. 

Finally found one around the time your grandfather traveled with costs attached :
"... The boys travel to Australia under the guardianship of a welfare officer. The reduced fare for boys between 14 and 17 years is £5 10s, and between 17 and 19 years £11. Part or all of the passage may be granted by way of a loan."
Monday,  May 11, 1925
Publication: The Daily Telegraph

[sparrett]

Here's hoping you will let us know that the information has been a help to you, Oxcat1

And also hoping you will ask if you need anything more.

Sue