Two Complete Farms on Board Tranby
The broad range of goods and chattels conveyed to the Swan River Colony by the Tranby can be seen in the "Description and Quantity of Property" imported and submitted to the Colonial Secretary by the emigrants. This meant that Tranby was laden above and below decks with goods and materials. Some material of note, for the Clarkson's and Hardey's party, are described below.
The Clarksons:
Some items recorded as being on board Tranby, belonging to the Clarkson brothers, included:
- a transportable three roomed wooden house,
- agricultural implements, machinery, and ironmongery,
- household furniture,
- clothing, linen,
- household goods, saddles,
- provisions, seeds and plants,
- 10 swords, a number of double and single barreled shotguns,
- 4,800 fish hooks,
- a cart, a boat, and a large top sail for a tent.
- a bassoon, a flute and bass viola.
The Hardeys:
Items delivered by the Hardey brothers to the Tranby for loading included:
Also included were a library of books and an array of musical instruments, including a clarinet, three violins, flutes, bass viola and a bassoon indicating a commitment to the finer aspects of life apart from farming.
- agricultural implements, farm machinery,
- variety of seeds and plants,
- a marquee, plus timber for a house,
- a boat and the necessary materials for two more boats.
- household furniture, feather beds, hangings, carpets
- clothing, saddles,
- china, linen,
- silver ware,
- provisions,
- guns, rifles and swords.
Also included were a library of books and an array of musical instruments, including a clarinet, three violins, flutes, bass viola and a bassoon indicating a commitment to the finer aspects of life apart from farming.
Ships Provisions
The provisions for the expected three months (at least) at sea included:
- barrels of pickled meat; pork or beef (in brine), hams,
- ten hundred weight of biscuits,
- thirty-five gallons of split peas,
- butter,
- flour, rice, salt and sugar,
- wooden barrels of fresh water,
- vinegar.
Why so much stuff?
Under the initial land grant conditions, settlers were granted 40 acres (162,00 m2) of land for every 3 Pounds of assets invested in the colony. Assessment of the value of assets was left to the discretion of the authorities.
For the purposes of assessing land entitlements, assets had to be physical capital applicable to land use; money was not assessed. In consequence, many settlers maximised their land entitlements by arriving with large amounts of expensive capital but very little cash. This gross overcapitalization caused the financial ruin of many early emigrants, and had a lasting deleterious effect on the colony's economy. Moreover, much of the larger machinery that was imported was useless in Western Australian conditions.
For the purposes of assessing land entitlements, assets had to be physical capital applicable to land use; money was not assessed. In consequence, many settlers maximised their land entitlements by arriving with large amounts of expensive capital but very little cash. This gross overcapitalization caused the financial ruin of many early emigrants, and had a lasting deleterious effect on the colony's economy. Moreover, much of the larger machinery that was imported was useless in Western Australian conditions.
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