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The first immigrant ship direct to Moreton Bay

One hundred and sixty three years ago the Artemisia, the first immigrant ship came direct to Moreton Bay. It arrived in the summer heat near Christmas.

The arrivals were keenly welcomed as a contribution to the labour supply and most were soon employed.

The Moreton Bay Courier was excited and wrote on the 16th December:THE arrival of the first immigrant vessel, direct from England, is an important event in the annals of Moreton Bay-an epoch to be often reverted to by the future historians of the northern colony. For that reason we give the good ship a place of honour in this day's issue, instead of confining our notice of her to the less conspicuous space usually occupied by our shipping intelligence.

A description of this new ship follows and the news of the imminent arrival of the first of Dr Lang's 3 vessels, the Fortitude which came the following February.

Moreton Bay was a rundown former convict colony but the Illustrated London News 12 August 1848 painted a rosier picture with descriptions of this "El Dorado" and "most interesting part of our possessions". The wages were visionary it assured the emigrants. Sketches of the vessel and its passengers were included in this edition. They are also included in Picture Australia http://www.pictureaustralia.org/. The full article is on microfilm at the State Library.

Read the coverage in the Australian papers at Trove http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

The State Library also holds a diary of a passenger who travelled from Scotland to Deptford and then onto Brisbane.

Do you have a family story related to the Artemisia?If so let us know at genie@slq.qld.gov.au