ADELAIDE, Australia, March 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
History is now being re-enacted on-line. In 1836 nine ships set sail from England to establish a new colony on the southern shores of Australia. This was to become the Province of South Australia. It was a unique departure from the previous penal settlement model. For the first time all of the passengers were free settlers looking to begin new lives in a far away land.
175 years later, History South Australia invites you to relive those amazing journeys across thousands of miles of ocean, as the passengers and crew make the journey of a lifetime. In the process you will gain a real insight into the adventures and perils of long sea voyages in the age of sail.
Bound for South Australia is a digital re-enactment of those nine voyages made between February and December 1836. The story is told in the words of those on board, from captains' logs, letters and diaries of passengers. Brought together for the very first time, these sources combine to produce real life accounts of these British pioneers - their hopes and fears, their excitement at the adventure, and their moments of terror as they encountered the awesome power of the ocean in their tiny vessels. In weekly episodes subscribers and visitors will meet the people, and hear about their experiences.
History South Australia Chief Executive Margaret Anderson said 'It has been tremendously exciting to bring these accounts together for the first time and to get to know these early British pioneers. Reading these letters and diaries is a bit like eavesdropping on peoples' lives in the past. By the end of the voyages they are like our families. We like some more than others, but in the end we really care about what happens to them'. Not all of them made it to the other side of the world and when they did it was not quite what they expected.
Passage onboard the fleet is open to everyone. The journey can be joined at http://www.boundforsouthaustralia.net.au . Weekly entries will be posted on the website, or subscribers can receive email updates and notifications of new posts, or follow the action on a twitter feed.
The voyage can be joined now, and runs until 28 December 2011.
What Bound for South Australia website.
Where Head to the website: http://www.boundforsouthaustralia.net.au
When Sailing now until 28 December 2011
Media Contact: Kym Cheek,
Marketing Manager,
email kcheek@history.sa.gov.au
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