Maria Baird
| Town/City | Brisbane |
|---|---|
| First name | Maria |
| Last name | Baird |
| Country of Origin | Ireland |
| Date of Birth | abt. 1850 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1876 |
| Submitted by | Joyce Stenhouse-Brown |
Story
Maria Baird was born about 1850 in Newtonbarry, (now Bunclody) County Carlow, Ireland.
Her parents were Alexander Baird and Susan Jenkins or Jenkinson.
It is not known why Maria decided to come to Queensland. She may have decided to when her brother Alexander Baird and his family said they were coming. They came on the ship The Gauntlet in 1876.
Maria arrived in Moreton Bay on the ship, “Western Monarch” 15 March, 1876 and came to anchor in the Brisbane Roads. The ship “Kate” hailed the vessel and it being ascertained by Dr. Challinor that there was a case of fever on board, the health officer deemed it prudent to place the ship in quarantine. The Executive council on 25th March ordered the ship into Peel Island.
BRISBANE COURIER, Saturday, March 25th. 1876
A Commission appointed by the executive Council proceeded by the steamer ‘Kate’ to Peel Island.
On the beach the surgeon superintendant of the vessell Dr. Harricks was met and consulted. The voyage had been a successful, healthy one with 2 births and 6 deaths, the latter being young children who died from diarrhoa and bronchitis. They agreed the people were now in good health. The visitors then proceeded to the hospital and examined the inmates, also taking a general look at the people and their quarters. About 20 new tents had been erected on wooden frames for the single girls & wards for the accommodation for the married couples. Nearly every tent was supplied with a fly, securely pegged down and with board and blankets on which to sleep. The people appeared to be a healthy lot, busily engaged in washing, carrying water, cooking or attempting to cook over bush fires scattered here and there. There appeared to be an opinion among the visitors that the present buildings were inadequate and unsuitable. Amongst the most pressing requirements are properly constructed closets, the ones in existence being not only in a disgraceful state of dilapidation but injurious to the health of the immigrants. Two of the waterholes – those from which the single girls and married couples derive their supply were visited. One had really good water supply and had never known to be dry. The present cemetery however was much too close and a fresh site should be selected.
The members of the commission came to the conclusion that there was no necessity to detain the people at this station any longer. The ship was next visited, the bunks had been taken out and burned on Bird Island and the washing of the lower decks checked and cabinet sanctioned the release of the immigrants. The single girls and the full paying passengers arrived in Brisbane on the steamer ‘Kate.’ Seventy five single girls were landed, fifteen went away with friends and 25 were open for engagement at the depot and the rest went to other parts of the colony.
The Western Monarch on her maiden voyage was one of the finest vessels to visit Brisbane.
Maria married George Rush. (see George Rush.)