Sketch of the front of the house

Name

Caroline Chisholm residence in London – 1846-54

Connection

A supporter of female migrants to Australia.

Location

32 Charlton Place, Islington, London N1 8AJ

How to get there

Nearest underground station: Angel (Northern Line)

Story

Caroline Chisholm (1808 – 1877) lived for a period in Australia where she became concerned about the welfare of migrants, in particular that of women and girls. On returning to England she lived at 32 Charlton Place, Islington, a charming side street built in 1795 (originally named Charlton Crescent). Here, she occupied herself with improving the conditions and opportunities for all migrating to the new colonies. Her London residence became home to the newly established Family Colonisation Loan Society. She instigated a system for the provision of a part-loan to migrate to Australia, which would later be paid back. This served as a precursor for future assisted migration schemes.

The blue plaque

Caroline Chisholm was in Australia between 1838 and 1846, having accompanied her husband Archibald, who was posted to Sydney following a stint in India. She noted the often difficult situation faced by new migrants, particularly women and children who had no job to come to and no means of support. Women often turned to prostitution to survive. Caroline set about placing women and girls in domestic and other roles and specialised in travelling to more rural areas to do this.

“Then she put the women and children in wagons and made the strong men walk and mounted a good horse herself and rode out into the country at the head of a great party to find employment for them.”

She initiated a number of schemes including free passage to Australia for the wives and children of former convicts. Another of her schemes was for children that, through necessity, emigrants had left behind in England. A number of educational institutions in Australia and England have been named after Mrs Chisholm, as well as the Canberra suburb and electoral division of Chisholm. She also appeared on the old $5 dollar note.

Image –here

Further information

Chisholm, C., Story of the life of Mrs Caroline Chisholm, the emigrant's friend, and her adventures in Australia, London: Trelawney Saunders, 1852

Wikipedia link – here

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The old street sign