THE SHIP “EUTOPIA”
by Fitzroy 1920
In 1862 Rockhampton was honoured by having a ship specially sent to Keppel Bay, the Eutopia, 949 tons, Captain George Stewart. This vessel was not so large as most of the emigrant vessels, but she made a fairly good voyage. Her last port of call was Plymouth, which she left on July 23, 1862, and arrived at the anchorage off Seaview Hill, Keppel Bay, on November 6, of the same year. Most of the immigrants were English or Scotch, and the vessels were being declared free of disease by Dr.W. Callaghan, the health officer of Rockhampton, were brought to the town by the old Boomerang steamer, arriving at the wharf on November 11.
The new arrivals were taken from the steamer to a temporary depot and as there was a good demand for all kinds of labour the bulk of them were quickly absorbed, this being especially the case with single girls and single men, parents with young children being more difficult to place satisfactorily.
Some of the immigrants had been specially hired at home for station owners, and at less than the current rate of-wages. This fact was very annoying, and naturally there was some grumbling. It was afterwards decided by the law courts that an agreement made in Britain was not binding unless it was ratified on arrival in Queensland. This was a very popular decision, and placed new arrivals all on an equality and prevented discontent.
Though it is nearly sixty-three years since the arrival of the Eutopia, there are a few of its passengers still alive that the writer knows of, and no doubt others of whom he has no cognisance. Quite a large number prospered in Queensland and many of them attained to considerable distinction.
Among those believed to be still living at Mr. Comachan, of Kahie, who came out with his wife, and settling at Kabra, made a great success as a carrier as well as a farmer. Among his family are Messer. J.P. and John Conachan, the well-know dentist.
Mr. Duncan Macmillan, who came out with his parents and their family and served his apprenticeship in the “Morning Bulletin” office, and was subsequently an employee of the Government Printing Office. He retired some years ago on account of the age limit, and now lives at Cooparoo, Brisbane, One or two of his sisters are believed to be still living, but his parents died many years ago.
Mr. William Callaghan, so well-known in the town as a hotelkeeper and sports man owned many first class horses. As the best of the old “Belmore Arms” he was practically known to all Central Queensland. He eventually built the Palace Hotel and took up his residence in Sydney. He may still be living.
Among those on the Eutopia who did well and are known to be dead were the following:- William Black, grazier of Greenlake. He was the first, or one of the first to start lime burning. He owned some splendid limestone and did a tidy business for a long time. He has been dead some years. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bars who made money by hard work and economy, and a little speculation in house property. Both have been dead for a few years, though they reached old age. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Weldrum, the former started as a police constable in Rockhampton and by his capacity and good conduct rose to a first class inspector before he retired. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Boad, of the Agricultural Reserve. This hard working couple made money on the land by dairying and farming. They reared a large family who are still in the district. Both died at an advanced age, Richard himself having passed his eightieth year. , Mr. William Diamond, once a well known hotelkeeper at Duringa. Mr. AndMrs?. William Priddle. Mr and Mrs. James Rattenbary, were farming and carrying on the Agricultural Reserve for many years. Mr and Mrs M’Fadyean, Mr and Mrs Cairns. Mr and Mrs Yorke, Mr William Norton, Mr J. Pike, Mrs. Prior, Mrs Brewer, Mr C. Herrin, Mr Cummingham, and others. A number of those who died reached fourscore years and more, while other passed the allotted span. On the whole the arrival by the Eutopia proved rather an exceptionally desirable body of immigrants.
Passenger List
Mary BARCLAY 18
Elizabeth BARRY 24
Henry BARRY Inf
Robert BARRY 24
Richard BARTON 21
Susannah BARTON 20
Charles BATES 7
Edward BATES 38
Elizabeth BATES 4
Ellen BATES 16
Hannah BATES 44
Laura BATES 9
Richard BOWERS 24
Albert BRAKE 16
Ann BRAKE 25
Ann BRAKE 5
Charles BRAKE 25
George BRAKE 2
Grace BRAKE 2
James BRAKE 11
James BRAKE 38
John BRAKE 13
Sarah BRAKE 35
Jane BREWER 9
John BREWER 32
Mark BREWER 3
Sarah BREWER 28
Louisa BRIGHT 23
Ann BRIPENDEN 27
James BRISSENDEN 24
Mary CAIRNS 25
William CAIRNS 25
John CAMERON 20
John CAMERON 22
Vere CAMERON 32
William CAMERON 26
Alice CARLILE 4
Mary CARLILE 25
William CARLILE 24
Mary COLLINS 21
Andrew CONACHAN Inf
Janet CONACHAN 26
John CONACHAN 20
William CONACHAN 25
Joseph DARBEY 32
Mary DARBEY 28
Ann DAWSON 23
Olinda H DAWSON Inf
Samuel DAWSON 25
Henry DIAMOND 25
James DIAMOND 17
William DIAMOND 20
Thomas DICKIER 22
Sophia ELDERKIN 25
William ELDERKIN 21
William GALLAGHER 19
James GARSON 21
David GIBSON 20
John GIRVAN 21
- (twin 1) HERON
- (twin 2) HERON
Charles HERON 24
Ruth HERON 21
Mary HERRIT 40
Agnes HILL 42
Edmund HILL 5
Elizabeth HILL 18
John HILL 20
Richard HILL 11
Richard HILL 44
Thomas HILL 8
William HILL 14
Elizabeth IRONSIDE 20
Robert IRONSIDE 24
James JACK 24
Ann KELLY 6
Catherine KELLY 24
James KELLY 3
James KELLY 33
Margaret KELLY 18
Mary Ann KELLY 22
Rose KELLY 16
Sarah KELLY 25
Robert KENNEDY 23
Michael KENNETH 25
Henry LAURENCE 23
Agnes LENNOX 36
Alexander LENNOX 35
Emma MAZZY 24
Robert McBLAIN? 24
Andrew McLAUCHAN? 19
Alexander McLENNON? 29
John McMAHON? 17
- McMillan? Inf
Archibald McMILLAN? 20
Barbara McMILLAN? 5
Duncan McMILLAN? 47
Duncan McMILLAN? 13
James McMILLAN? 8
Jane McMILLAN? 18
Janet McMILLAN? 21
John McMILLAN? 2
Margaret McMILLAN? 12
Mary McMILLAN? 15
Mary McMILLAN? 47
Samuel McPHERSON? 29
Leah McTAGGART? 20
Alex MELDRUM 26
Helen MELDRUM 26
John MILLAR 21
John MOFFAT 20
Ann NEAL 1
Jane NEAL 22
John NEAL 24
Robert NEAL 1
Joseph PARK 27
William PERCIVAL 22
David PETTIGREW 21
Edward QUICKEDEN 19
Fred William RATTENBURY Inf
James RATTENBURY 25
John D RATTENBURY 21
Josh Jas RATTENBURY 2
Mary RATTENBURY 26
Sophia SAVORY 24
David SMITH 22
George SMITH 26
Margaret SMITH 18
Mary SMITH 17
Robert SMITH 24
James SMYTH 20
Ellen SOLWAY 21
Francis SOLWAY 19
George TALBOT 18
Mary Ann TALBOT 19
John TEMPLETON 23
Nicholas THOMAS 22
James TOLMIE 22
James TWATT 19
- URWIN Inf
Mary A URWIN 19
Robert URWIN 22
Harriett VILE 24
John WADE 23
Thomas WAINWRIGHT 20
Jane WALLACE 24
Robert WALLACE 30
William WEBBERLEY 20
Caroline WOOD 31
Ellen WOOD 24
Fanny WOODFORD 8
Mary WOODFORD 33
Phoebe WOODFORD 13
Samuel WOODFORD 43
Samuel WOODFORD 12
Edward WOODGATE 22
Henry WOODWARD 22
Nicholas WYLLIE 21
Anne YOUNG 30