Historical information

Colonization Circulars were published in England from 1843 t0 1873, volumes 1 to 32. They were produced by Her Majesty's Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. Designed as occasional or annual handbooks to inform prospective migrants about life, travel, and economic conditions in British colonies, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. Key information included:
Travel Details: Costs and lengths of sea passages, and notes on assisted passage schemes. Economic Data: Prevailing local wages, labour demands, and retail prices for provisions and clothing. Official Regulations: Names and duties of emigration officers, summaries of passenger acts, and rules for land sales or crown land disposal. Practical Advice: Suggested outfit requirements for the voyage and guidelines for settlers.
Colonial Land and Emigration Commission was created in 1840 to undertake the duties of two earlier and overlapping authorities under the supervision of the secretary of state: the Colonisation Commissioners for South Australia and the Agent General for Emigration. In 1855 it became the Emigration Commission. The commission's powers were gradually given up to the larger colonies as they obtained self-government, and after 1873 it was responsible only for controlling the importation of Indian labour into sugar-producing colonies. It was abolished in 1878 and an Emigration Department was then set up in the Colonial Office. This department was merged with the General Department in 1894, and abolished altogether in 1896.

Physical description

Soft cover. Title written in Royal Blue on front cover. Feint newspaper articles as background on both front and back covers. 38pp. Printed by Acacia Press Pty. Ltd. ISBN 0947158170. Published by Macbeth Genealogical Books, Hampton. The book is a facsimile of the Colonization Circular in May, 1854. No diagrams.