SS Reigate Passage Contract (1867): A Glimpse into Luxury Ocean Travel from Australia to London
📌 Explore the 1867 passage contract for the SS Reigate, a first-class voyage from Melbourne to London. Discover the cost of travel, passenger rights, and the impact of British migration laws on ocean travel. A valuable resource for historians, genealogists, and maritime enthusiasts.
Cabin Passenger's Contract Ticket on the SS Reigate of the Surrey Steamship Company, 11 May 1867 - Australia to London. GGA Image ID # 1f9a580b77
Summary of Passage Contract
- Date of Purchase / Voyage: 11 May 1867
- Steamship Line: Surrey Steamship Company
- Steamship: SS Reigate
- Route: Melbourne to London
- Ticket Type: Passage Contract
- Voyage Class: First Class
- Name on Contract: Margaret Schenk and 3 children
- Etnicity of Passenger(s): British or Australian
- Contract Terms: Limited
- Cost of Ticket: £ 85 / £7,695.00 in 2020 GBP
Passage Contract Details
This contract was intended for First Class passage on the SS Reigate of the Surrey Steamship Company, a 3-mast, full-rigged ship built in 1862 weighing 1,035 tons.
Contract Terms
- A Contract Ticket in this form must be given to every cabin passenger engaging a passage in a “passenger ship” from Victoria to any place out of the said colony coming under the operation of any Proclamation from time to time issued by the Governor of Victoria under the Passengers Act 1855 under a penalty not exceeding £50.
- Unless the passengers are to have a free table the victualling scale for the voyage must be appended to the Contract Ticket.
- All the blanks must be correctly and legibly filled in and the ticket must be legibly signed with the Christian names and surname and address in full of the party issuing the same.
- The day of the month on which the ship is to sail must be inserted in words and not in figures only.
- When once issued this ticket must not be withdrawn from the passenger nor any alteration or erasure made in it unless with his consent.
“Reigate” of 1100 Tons Register, to Sail from the Port of Melbourne for London on the 11th day of May 1867
Names and Ages of Passengers
- Margaret Schenk, 37
- John Schenk, 4
- William?, 3
- Anne (Infant)
In consideration of the Sum of £85, I herby agree with the person named in the margin hereof that such person shall be provided with FIRST CLASS CABIN PASSAGE in the above-named ship to sail from the Port of Melbourne for the Port of London in England, with not less than Forty Cubical Feet of Luggage for each person and that such person shall be victualled as FIRST CLASS CABIN PASSENGER during the voyage and the time of detention at any place before its termination and I further engage to land the person aforesaid with his Luggage at the last-mentioned Port free of any charge beyond the Passage Money aforesaid and I hereby acknowledge to have received the sum of £475 in part payment of such Passage Money.
/s/ Jaured Hufillits ?
For J. H. White & Co.
Collins Street West
Melbourne, 4 May 1867
- Deposit: £ 45
- Balance: £ 40 – To be paid Three Days before Embarkation
- Total: £ 85
The Ship will not be accountable for luggage, goods, or other description of property, unless Bills of Lading have been signed for same. No jewelry, bullion, etc., will be carried as luggage.
Notice to Cabin Passengers
- If Cabin Passengers, through no default of their own, fail to obtain a passage in the ship, and on the day named in this Contract Ticket, they may obtain redress for breach of Contract by summary process under the 73rd Section of the Passengers Act, 1855, or the 7th Clause of the Passage Brokers Act, 1863.
- Cabin Passengers must produce, on demand, their Contract Ticket to the Government Emigration Officer, under a penalty not exceeding £10. This ticket should therefore be preserved and kept in readiness to be produced on board the ship.
Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value
In 2020, the relative value of £85 0s 0d from 1867 ranges from £7,695.00 to £183,700.00.
A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is £7,695.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying £85.00 by the percentage increase in the RPI from 1867 to 2020.
This may not be the best answer.
The best measure of the relative value over time depends on if you are interested in comparing the cost or value of a Commodity, Income or Wealth, or a Project. For more discussion on how to pick the best measure, consult the Tutorials.
If you want to compare the value of a £85 0s 0d Commodity in 1867 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:
real price of that commodity is £7,695.00
labour value of that commodity is £55,930.00
income value of that commodity is £72,020.00
economic share of that commodity is £183,700.00
If you want to compare the value of a £85 0s 0d Income or Wealth, in 1867 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:
real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is £7,695.00
labour earnings of that income or wealth is £55,930.00
relative income value of that income or wealth is £72,020.00
relative output value of that income or wealth is £183,700.00
If you want to compare the value of a £85 0s 0d Project in 1867 there are three choices. In 2020 the relative:
real cost of that project is £8,986.00
labour cost of that project is £55,930.00
economic cost of that project is £183,700.00
Source: www.measuringworth.com
🌍 Recap and Summary: SS Reigate Passage Contract (11 May 1867) 🚢
🌊 A Window into 19th-Century Ocean Travel from Australia to London
The SS Reigate Passage Contract, dated 11 May 1867, offers a rare and invaluable insight into 19th-century ocean travel, particularly for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians interested in migration, maritime history, and the socio-economic conditions of long-distance voyages.
This document details a first-class cabin passage aboard the SS Reigate, a full-rigged, three-masted sailing ship operated by the Surrey Steamship Company, transporting passengers from Melbourne, Australia, to London, England.
For genealogists, this is a treasure trove, as it records the names, ages, and financial transactions of passengers, particularly Margaret Schenk and her three children, illustrating how women and families traveled long distances in the 19th century.
For historians, the document highlights maritime contract law, the impact of the Passengers Act of 1855, and the growing regulation of passenger transport in response to concerns over safety, comfort, and economic fairness in ocean travel.
🚢 Key Voyage Details
Date of Purchase: 4 May 1867
Date of Voyage: 11 May 1867
Ship: SS Reigate (1,035 tons, full-rigged, built in 1862)
Steamship Line: Surrey Steamship Company
Route: Melbourne → London
Voyage Class: First-Class Cabin
Passenger(s): Margaret Schenk (37), John Schenk (4), William? (3), and Anne (Infant)
Ticket Cost: £85 (Equivalent to £7,695 in 2020, up to £183,700 depending on economic context)
Issuer: J. H. White & Co., Collins Street West, Melbourne
Deposit Paid: £45
Balance Due Before Embarkation: £40
📜 The SS Reigate and the Era of Ocean Travel from Australia to England
The SS Reigate, a three-masted, full-rigged ship, was one of many vessels transporting passengers, cargo, and mail between Australia and Britain during a time when migration was booming, particularly due to:
✅ The Australian gold rush (1850s-1860s), which drew thousands to the colony
✅ The expansion of British settlement in Australia, leading to increased family travel
✅ The demand for faster and more comfortable ocean crossings, resulting in the rise of first-class accommodations
At a time when steamships were gradually replacing sailing ships, the SS Reigate still relied on sails, making for a long and arduous voyage of several months.
Unlike steerage passengers, who endured harsh conditions, first-class travelers like Margaret Schenk and her children enjoyed better accommodations, regular meals, and personal luggage allowances.
📌 Notable Contract Terms: A Closer Look at Passenger Rights
One of the most interesting aspects of this contract is its connection to the Passengers Act of 1855, a law designed to protect travelers, regulate shipowners, and prevent fraudulent ticket sales.
Key stipulations of this first-class contract included:
🔹 Legally Required Contract for All Cabin Passengers → Ships had to provide passengers with an official ticket, ensuring they were not overcharged or left stranded.
🔹 Minimum Living Space (40 Cubic Feet of Luggage Per Person) → A reflection of early attempts to improve travel conditions, particularly for wealthier passengers.
🔹 Food Provisions for the Entire Voyage → Ensured that cabin passengers had sufficient meals, a stark contrast to steerage passengers, who often had to bring their own food.
🔹 Accountability for Unfulfilled Voyages → If a passenger was unable to board due to ship overcrowding, they could seek legal redress, demonstrating increased government oversight.
🔹 No Responsibility for Luggage Unless Officially Documented → Highlights early maritime liability issues, protecting shipowners from claims over lost valuables.
This contract serves as an important historical document, showcasing how maritime law was evolving to address issues of passenger welfare in long-haul voyages.
📸 Noteworthy Images & Their Historical Value
🖼️ SS Reigate Passage Contract (1867)
A tangible record of transcontinental travel, documenting a mother and her three children making a life-changing journey.
An essential piece of history for genealogists researching the Schenk family or British-Australian migration.
🖼️ First-Class Passenger Notice
Provides insight into legal rights and travel expectations for elite passengers, marking an era where luxury sea travel became more regulated.
🖼️ 19th-Century Ocean Travel Routes
Demonstrates how Australia became deeply connected to Britain via ocean trade and migration, reinforcing its role in the British Empire.
🔍 Why This Document is Historically Important
📚 For Historians & Teachers
Reveals how maritime contracts worked and how passengers’ rights evolved under 19th-century British law.
Illustrates the differences in class-based ocean travel, offering a contrast to the harsh conditions of steerage passengers.
Sheds light on British-Australian migration, a major factor in Australia’s demographic and economic history.
👨👩👧👦 For Genealogists
A valuable document for tracing ancestral records, especially for descendants of the Schenk family or British emigrants returning home.
Provides personal details (ages, travel conditions, and financial transactions) often missing in general migration records.
🌎 For Students & Researchers
Shows how long-distance travel was structured before modern air travel, offering insights into voyage duration, ticket costs, and accommodations.
Connects maritime history with economic history, illustrating the cost of travel in a pre-globalized world.
🌍 Final Thoughts: A Family’s Journey Across the Globe
The SS Reigate passage contract from 1867 is more than just a ticket for a luxury voyage—it’s a historical document that connects family migration, maritime law, and 19th-century British-Australian relations.
This voyage represents:
A mother and her children traveling across continents, possibly to reunite with family or start a new chapter in England.
A reflection of class-based travel in maritime history, contrasting with steerage conditions for working-class emigrants.
A transitional period in ocean travel, where sailing ships still dominated, but steamships were beginning to take over.
Through this contract and its legal implications, we see the changing landscape of international migration and passenger protection, making it an invaluable piece of maritime history. 🚢📜✨
