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WEE TOTTIE departure for Australia Natal Witness March 4 1853

The discovery of gold in Australia led to an exodus of colonists from Natal from 1852. Some were disillusioned with the way the Byrne scheme had turned out; for a few, it was an escape from debts incurred in Natal; all were lured by the prospect of new get-rich-quick opportunities in the Antipodes. No precise figures are recorded for those who left permanently; Hattersley's estimate of 200 seems somewhat low. Certainly, the families of some men remained behind in Natal while the breadwinner went to try his luck, not intending to stay in Australia.

In October of 1852 the Hannah and Sarah Bell went directly to Melbourne from Natal, carrying such settlers. The brig Wee Tottie and the Golden Age followed in 1853 and 1854 respectively. To passengers on these vessels we should add those who took alternative routes e.g. via the Cape.

Therefore, if an ancestor unaccountably disappears from the Natal scene during this period, he might reappear in Australia - or pop up again in Natal after an interval in the other colony.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

ARRIVED

Feb 24 - Margaret Gibson, brig, 148 tons, R Robinson from Liverpool 22nd Oct., to this port.
Cargo sundries.
EP Lamport, Agent.

Feb 28 - Anne, schooner, 99 tons, J Cameron, from Table Bay and Algoa Bay 20th, to this port.
Cargo sundries.
PASSENGERS
Misses Loftie and Walker
In the steerage
Mr Jones
J Brown, Agent.

SAILED

Feb 19 - Leontine Mary, F Fuller, to East London.
PASSENGERS
Mr Garbutt and wife
Mr Trow, wife and 2 children
Mrs Miles and 2 children
Messrs
Hawkins
Tucker
Clarkson
Alexander
Maitland
Wilson

Feb 22 - Wee Tottie, J Roberts, to Australia.
PASSENGERS
Mr F Spring, late Postmaster General
Mr and Mrs Schwikkard
Mrs Warwick and 2 children
Mr and Mrs Mullins and child
Mr and Mrs McKeaney
Mr and Mrs Trotter
Mr Geddes, wife and 3 children
Mrs and Mrs Greenaway
Mr and Mrs O'Neil and child
Mr and Mrs Bennett and 6 children
Mr and Mrs Marianny and 3 children
Mrs Blade
Mr and Mrs Munro and child
Mr and Mrs Fanning and child
Mr and Mrs Hicks
Mr and Mrs G Tomlinson
Mr and Mrs Troy
Mr and Mrs McKenna and child
Mr Harris and 2 children
Messrs
Cope
Milner
Williams
Kelley
Hubbard
Todd
D Patterson
Watt
Jenkey
Butler
Fyvie
Webber
Taylor
Barber
Ashton
Callain
Thomas
Strachan
Holden
Wilson

INSIDE
Roscoe,
Jackson and Co., agents.
Margaret Gibson, R Robinson, for Mauritius.
Lamport
Anne, J Cameron, from Table Bay.
Brown

VESSELS EXPECTED
From London
Louisa Maria, Trent, Vibilia, Augustus Schnader, Wanderer, and Lady of the Lake.
From the Cape
Sir Robert Peel, Steamer,
J Boxer.