Utopia 1862

General Information

The Utopia weighed 949tonne and was a wooden 3 Mast Ship. It was built by J. Johnston, St. John, New Brunswich in 1853.


The Black Ball Line acquired The Utopia in 1857.


The Master of the Utopia was George Stewart

The Surgeon-Superintendent was F. W. Johnson

The Schoolmaster was David Andrews

The Matron was Mary A. North

News Reports

27 September 1862

A report in the Rockhampton Bulletin that the Emigration Commissioners in England had chartered the 'UTOPIA' to convey emigrants from Plymouth to Keppel Bay and that it had departed from Plymouth on 23rd July.

After the appearance of this article, There was a question as to whether the ship,

'UTOPIA' would actually arrive at Keppel Bay, but would in fact, dock at Moreton Bay. It was pointed out after all, that with the exception of the "Persia" that arrived at Port Curtis in 1861 and the "Ariadne," which was shortly expected to arrive at Wide Bay, the immigrant vessels had all been chartered for Moreton Bay. In the Morning Bulletin of October 4, 1862, John Jardine, P.M., in a letter to the editor wrote,

"As it is of importance that the employers and others in the Northern Districts should have no doubt on the subject, I beg to inform you that officers to form a sub-immigration have been nominated, and that I have received instructions from the Government to make all necessary preparations for the reception of the "UTOPIA' and her freight of immigrants."

"The ship may be expected to arrive in Keppel Bay about the 1st of November next, and it shall be my special care to make the arrangements best suited to the interests and convenience of the people of this district, in the disposal of the expected immigrants."

15 October 1862 First advertisement in Morning Bulletin of immigrants and goods arriving on the 'UTOPIA'.

25 October 1862

In the Rockhampton Bulletin, the following was noted: "The" "UTOPIA will be due in another week, and employers would do well to make their arrangements in anticipation of her arrival. The article also stated "We understand a Sub-Immigration Board has been constituted for Rockhampton, consisting of Mr. Jardine, PM; Mr. Brown, WPM, Mr. Wood, District Surveyor. Dr. Callaghan has been appointed Health Officer. , The Survey Office is now being prepared for the reception of the immigrants."

8 of November 1862 "GLORIOUS NEWS!!! The Arrival of the "UTOPIA" IMMIGRANT Vessel in Keppel Bay-its arrival being the most exciting topic of the hour!


There had been great eagerness within the small community in Central Queensland to attract people to the area-"The arrival of a shipload of immigrants in this district would be indeed a great boon. Labour is very much in request for up-country employments, and 200 or 300 immigrants would be speedily taken up by our settlers." appeared in the first issue of the Rockhampton Bulletin, dated 29 July 1861.

Among those on board were

  • 3 Butchers

  • 55 Farm & Ag. Labourers

  • 1 Shoemaker

  • 1 Sawyer

  • 14 Shepherds

  • 2 Carters

  • 25 Ploughmen

  • 3 Gardeners

  • 1 Weaver

  • 1 Bricklayer

  • 2 Brick-makers

  • 1 Iron Fitter

  • 3 Grooms

  • 5 Carpenters

  • 1 Quarryman

  • 2 Wheelwrights

  • 1 Millwright

  • 1 Miner

  • 1 Mason

  • 1 Engine Driver

  • 1 Miller and

  • 1 Lad

Among the single women, there were

  • 10 House Maids

  • 17 General Servants

  • 8 Cooks

  • 2 Needle-women

  • 11 Nurse Maids

  • 4 Farm Servants


50 Years Later

5 November 1912


Fifty Years Ago-Arrival of First Immigrant Ship:


Mr. A Small of Clermont, requests all persons who arrived in Central Queensland by the ship "UTOPIA," which left Plymouth on the 23rd July and reached Keppel Bay on the 6th of November, 1862, to meet at Stenlake's rooms at eleven o'clock tomorrow.

7 November 1912


First Immigrants' Jubilee "Fifty years ago yesterday, the sailing vessel, 'UTOPIA' of 949 tons with 324 immigrants on board, anchored in Keppel Bay after having been 106 days on the voyage from Plymouth. Within less than a week of the landing of the passengers, more than half of the number had found employment in the town and district, and the 'Bulletin' of the day, referring to them, said: Taking the number engaged within 48 hours, from the time that they were open for selection, and coupling with it the quality of those disengaged and the fact that many of the more eligible are merely weighing offers that have been made to them, we must pronounce the result of the trial as to our demand for labour a perfect success and calculated to ensure a continuation of immigration to this port. A similar shipment every three months would be eagerly snapped up."


"It would appear that not quite half of those who came out in the 'UTOPIA' and who are still living in the district, were able to attend the jubilee reunion, some being too advanced in years, others living out too great a distance"

Those present were: Mesdames McFadyen, Davis, Gay, Bannon, Talbot, Royes, Robertson, Barry, D. Bailey, Vaughan, Wisher, Hanson and Messrs: A. Small, J. Diamond, J. Conachan (Conaghan), Talbot, H. Diamond, R. Bond, P. Crawley, Bates.

"For a couple of hours they remained together partaking of refreshments and recalling their days together aboard ship. Towards the close of the proceedings, a few brief speeches were made by Messrs Small, Conachan and H. Diamond. Those present then proceeded to the Lynn Studio and were photographed.

1912 Utopia Celebrants


50TH Anniversary of

Arrival of Immigrants to Rockhampton

Inserts: L-R: Margaret (Stewart) York, William Conaghan (?), Sarah Brewer.

3rd Row: L-R: Sarah Crowley, Mary Royes, ______. ______, Richard Bond.

2nd Row: L-R: Mary Hansen, Charles Bates, Laura (Bates) Davis , ______, ______, ______, Mary (Quirk) Gay, Martha Hannah (Norton) Vaughan.

1st Row: (seated) Mary Ann Talbot, George Talbot, ______, Edward Bates Jnr, Andrew Small (?), John Conachan (Conaghan), ______, ______.

Front: L-R: ______, ______.