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Title Diary of David Yuile, on the 'SS City of Dunedin' and 'SS Albion', Scotland to Victoria, via New Zealand
Author Yuile, David (1849-1889)
Date 16 Sep 1872 - 9 May 1874
Document Type Personal Account
Reference HT 13450
Library / Archive Museums Victoria
Collection Name Diaries / Journals / Letters
Description David Yuile came to Victoria via New Zealand from Scotland on 21 September 1872, for his health. The diary contains daily entries which describe his departure, voyage, weeks in New Zealand, arrival in Victoria and life there until the diary abruptly ends on 9 May 1874. Yuile's descriptions of life in Melbourne during the 1870s are particularly engaging, with references to rowing regattas, visits to the library, gallery and museum, domestic and cultural entertainments, sporting events such as the Melbourne Cup and cricket matches. The diary also contains a letter dated 10 October 1872 from David Yuile to Mr McClure in Dunedin, New Zealand during the ship's voyage; a loose empty envelope addressed to "David Yuile Esq, 9 Hopetoun Place, Glasgow, Scotland"; one piece of paper inscribed with a poem; one newspaper clipping relating to the Intercolonial Gig Race between Victoria and New South Wales in Sydney; one blue piece of lined paper dated 4 April 1874 and addressed to Mr Yuell (sic) Footscray from John Campbell challenging his crew to row the Regatta course on 25 April 1874; and two scraps of paper, one with two UK addresses on one side and a list of dates and sea voyage events on the other, and the other piece with miscellaneous diary notes. The diary also includes hand drawn layouts of ship cabins and topographical renderings of coastlines, including Victoria.
Biographical Note / History David Yuile was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 24 April 1849, the son of a wine merchant. Suffering from a chronic respiratory condition, his doctors recommended a long sea voyage and in September 1872, at 23 years of age, David boarded the 'SS City of Dunedin' headed for Dunedin. He arrived in Otago Bay on 30 December 1872 and remained in Dunedin, living on board the ship, until 25 January 1873 when he left for Melbourne on the 'SS Albion'. He arrived in Melbourne on 6 February 1873, where he stayed with his cousins the Hendersons at 'Myrtle Bank' on the Maribyrnong River in Footscray. He seems to have suffered bouts of ill health but spent his time planting trees and a vegetable garden at Myrtle Bank and assisting the family with business affairs. He was also involved in rowing regattas on the Maribyrnong. On 21 November 1876 David married Martha Miller in Yarraville. By this time David was engaged in importing art and also had shares in the Australian Ruby Company. The couple had five daughters, all born in Footscray, but at the time of David's death the family was living in Camberwell. David died on 12 January 1889 of consumption at the age of 39 and was buried in Kew. He left Martha and his five daughters aged from 3 to 11 years well provided for.
Theme(s) Departures: Port Conditions and Organisation; Journey Conditions; Arrivals: Ports and Early Experiences; Onward Travel
Country (from) Great Britain
Country (to) New Zealand; Australia
Places Melbourne, Victoria, Hobson's Bay, Australia; Auckland, Christchurch, New Zealand
Ports Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Lyttelton, New Zealand; Glasgow, Scotland; Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia
Nationality Scottish
Ships SS City of Dunedin; SS Albion; Glenhaven; Duke of Edinburgh; SS Wellington; Mooltan; SS Somersetshire
People Yuile, David
Keywords sport, shipping, emigration, entertainment, food, religion, sailor, bad weather, passenger, animals, travel, death, health and sickness, disease, postal service, railway, tourism
Additional Information Please note: Some of the metadata for this document has been taken from the Museum Victoria catalogue.
Catalogue Link Museums Victoria Catalogue
Language English
Document(s) linked to Wicker Travel Basket
Copyright Museums Victoria