Story: The voyage out

Steerage to Wellington

Steerage to Wellington

Most of the immigrants who sailed from the United Kingdom to New Zealand between 1840 and the 1870s travelled in steerage. This 1874 ticket to Wellington is for the passage of George Smith, his wife and four children. George’s diary for the voyage describes the crowded and uncomfortable conditions, and records deaths at sea from scarlet fever and measles.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: MS-Papers-0309

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

John Wilson, 'The voyage out - Journeys to New Zealand', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/document/2550/steerage-to-wellington (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by John Wilson, published 8 Feb 2005