Scots in Australia

Question 1

Impact of Scotland in Australia
Farming

Answer 1

John Macarthur, a Scot introduced Merino sheep to Australia and Scots also helped to introduce new agricultural techniques.

Scotland was a significant investor in developing agriculture and sheep farming - the Clyde Company developed 44,000 acres of land for sheep farming.

Many Scots worked in remote and rural areas, having worked in similar areas in Scotland.

Question 2

Impact of Scotland in Australia
Food and Drink

Answer 2

Samuel McWilliams in particular introduced vineyards in 3 different states and other Scots followed, developing the wine industry which still flourishes today.

Scots were also involved in developing the sugar industry - they established sugar mills and refineries (many had experiences from plantations in the Caribbean). Angus Gibson established a plantation in Bundaberg, which would go on to become one of the largest sugar producers in Australia.

Robert McCracken then introduced the brewing of beer in Melbourne.

Question 3

Impact of Scotland in Australia
Mining

Answer 3

Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, Surveyor General of New South Wales, is credited with starting the great gold rush of 1851 which enticed huge numbers of migrants to Australia hoping to make their fortunes. One notable Scottish mine owner was James Mitchell who operated in a copper and coal mine in Newcastle.

As late as 1920s and 30s, Scots were coming from Lanarkshire and Ayrshire to work in the coal mines of New South Wales user their experiences in Scottish mines in order to improve their own incomes but also inadvertently helping boost its economy through the production of materials from mined minerals.

Question 4

Impact of Scotland in Australia
Trade

Answer 4

Robert Campbell from Greenock played a key role in developing Australian trade - so much so that he became known as the ‘Father of Australian Commerce’.

The whaling trade was also dominated by Scots, with Alexander Imlay being a significant Tasmanian whaling operator in the 1830s.

Scots also dominated shipping firms. For example, Malcolm McEacharn was the first man to successfully transport Australian refrigerated meat to Britain, arriving in Britain in 1881.

Robert Campbell also set up businesses in Calcutta before moving to Sydney where he established himself as a merchant before setting up Australia’s first shipyard as well as a sheep farm.

Question 5

Impact of Scotland in Australia
Industry and Finance

Question 6

Impact of Scotland in Australia
Construction

Question 7

Impact of Scotland in Australia
Famous Products