After the crises of the Maritime Dispute in 1890, Shearers’ Dispute in 1891 and the Great Depression of early 1890s, many in Australia’s working class believed that their nation could never be a workingman’s paradise. Some were drawn to a utopian settlement in Paraguay.
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In July 1893 the tall ship finally sailed, across the Pacific, round Cape Horn and up the Argentine coast. In Sept, 500 Australians arrived in Paraguay’s capital, Asuncion. From there they continued by train to their promised land, facing bullocks, wagons, rivers and mosquitoes until they arrived. 75,000 hectares of FREE land, but nothing like the arable land they’d wanted.
Eventually the Royal Tar sailed from Adelaide with another shipload of emigrants for Paraguay, the utopia of equality, fairness and communal living. But while many of the settlers seemed both skilled and well motivated, some New Australia settlers were not well suited to rural life, couldn’t tolerate grim conditions and spoke no Spanish.
Alas Lane was an autocrat; his controlling leadership style was already clear aboard ship. His strict rules banned alcohol or socialising with local women, very difficult for the single shearers. And there were few single Australian women. But even with Lane’s total control, how horrible that committed men were expelled!
New Australia soon comprised a few small villages and farms but many settlers left to seek a better city-based life. In response to falling numbers and failing finances, and appalled by the behaviour of the young shearers, Lane left.
Paraguay’s government was still generous, granting Lane’s second group another area of land in the south. This even more faithful group of 63 Christian socialists moved to a new settlement, Cosme 72 ks away, starting to clear the bush, build houses and plant crops. And a shop soon opened.
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The settlement’s dire situation could be seen in the final issue (June 1904) of Cosme Monthly headed: Consider Before Coming: Intending migrants to Cosme should carefully consider the following
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William Lane, c1892
Wiki
British-born William Lane (1861–1917) was the popular editor of Brisbane Worker newspaper, inspiring the 1890s Australian labour movement. Lane loathed oppressive industrial laws, dangerous work practices and Chinese migration. He loved the Women’s Suffrage Movement, progressive taxation, and utopian societies.
Why did the New Australia Movement chose the remote nation of Paraguay, full of jungles. The New Australia Association originally thought farming would be best in Argentina, but that government was unhelpful.
After a long dictatorship, Paraguay had declared war in 1865-70 against its neighbours Brasil, Argentina and even Uruguay. Devastation followed when two-thirds of Paraguay’s population were damaged or killed. The national government offered migrants desirable land grants, to boost its population of fit young men and help the local economy.
This was the first-ever organised emigration project from Australia, but was opposed by local newspapers. So the group continued working and seeking members, and published the monthly Journal of New Australia commencing Nov 1892. Men had to pay £60 each to join the colony, a large outlay! Still, Lane signed up 238 shearers, farmers, stockmen, unionists and their families. The Co-operative bought the S.S Royal Tar, intending to transport many shiploads of members to the new paradise. They all gathered in Sydney, but the NSW government used all its maritime rules to delay the first voyage.
Why did the New Australia Movement chose the remote nation of Paraguay, full of jungles. The New Australia Association originally thought farming would be best in Argentina, but that government was unhelpful.
After a long dictatorship, Paraguay had declared war in 1865-70 against its neighbours Brasil, Argentina and even Uruguay. Devastation followed when two-thirds of Paraguay’s population were damaged or killed. The national government offered migrants desirable land grants, to boost its population of fit young men and help the local economy.
This was the first-ever organised emigration project from Australia, but was opposed by local newspapers. So the group continued working and seeking members, and published the monthly Journal of New Australia commencing Nov 1892. Men had to pay £60 each to join the colony, a large outlay! Still, Lane signed up 238 shearers, farmers, stockmen, unionists and their families. The Co-operative bought the S.S Royal Tar, intending to transport many shiploads of members to the new paradise. They all gathered in Sydney, but the NSW government used all its maritime rules to delay the first voyage.
In July 1893 the tall ship finally sailed, across the Pacific, round Cape Horn and up the Argentine coast. In Sept, 500 Australians arrived in Paraguay’s capital, Asuncion. From there they continued by train to their promised land, facing bullocks, wagons, rivers and mosquitoes until they arrived. 75,000 hectares of FREE land, but nothing like the arable land they’d wanted.
Eventually the Royal Tar sailed from Adelaide with another shipload of emigrants for Paraguay, the utopia of equality, fairness and communal living. But while many of the settlers seemed both skilled and well motivated, some New Australia settlers were not well suited to rural life, couldn’t tolerate grim conditions and spoke no Spanish.
Alas Lane was an autocrat; his controlling leadership style was already clear aboard ship. His strict rules banned alcohol or socialising with local women, very difficult for the single shearers. And there were few single Australian women. But even with Lane’s total control, how horrible that committed men were expelled!
New Australia soon comprised a few small villages and farms but many settlers left to seek a better city-based life. In response to falling numbers and failing finances, and appalled by the behaviour of the young shearers, Lane left.
Paraguay’s government was still generous, granting Lane’s second group another area of land in the south. This even more faithful group of 63 Christian socialists moved to a new settlement, Cosme 72 ks away, starting to clear the bush, build houses and plant crops. And a shop soon opened.
Cosme's first shop
University of Sydney
Cosme’s philosophy had the aims of an idealistic society: 1] everyone was equal, with commitment to the superiority of English speaking whites, 2] lifelong marriage and 3] teetotalism. Even in the 1890s, this was a strange mix of radicalism and conservatism, perhaps following the views of Australian working-class movements then. But it was difficult.
Cosme Monthly was a small news journal, from Nov 1894-Dec 1896, handwritten by William Lane. All issues were 4-6 pages, some printed by Trade Union Printers of E. London. Subscriptions for Cosme Monthly were accepted at Trades’ Halls in all Australian capitals, showing propaganda and progress reports. Regarding social life they reported dancing classes, gala nights, cricket matches, chess games, the Literary and Social Union and school dates for the 22 pupils.
Cosme Monthly was a small news journal, from Nov 1894-Dec 1896, handwritten by William Lane. All issues were 4-6 pages, some printed by Trade Union Printers of E. London. Subscriptions for Cosme Monthly were accepted at Trades’ Halls in all Australian capitals, showing propaganda and progress reports. Regarding social life they reported dancing classes, gala nights, cricket matches, chess games, the Literary and Social Union and school dates for the 22 pupils.
Cricket match, Cosme
The settlement’s dire situation could be seen in the final issue (June 1904) of Cosme Monthly headed: Consider Before Coming: Intending migrants to Cosme should carefully consider the following
Health: The work here is entirely manual, the summer climate is trying and the food is very limited.
Temperament: Disappointments in the industries are common in Cosme; after 10 years, still in debt. Our population decreased since last May
One of Australia’s most famous writers, Mary Gilmore, was a colonist who edited the newspaper, taught Cosme’s children and married a settler. Gilmore, who’d always believed in socialist ideals, wrote about her time in Paraguay saying “It wasn't a success, however it was a great experience. Under Lane’s dictatorship it would never work!”
Temperament: Disappointments in the industries are common in Cosme; after 10 years, still in debt. Our population decreased since last May
One of Australia’s most famous writers, Mary Gilmore, was a colonist who edited the newspaper, taught Cosme’s children and married a settler. Gilmore, who’d always believed in socialist ideals, wrote about her time in Paraguay saying “It wasn't a success, however it was a great experience. Under Lane’s dictatorship it would never work!”
Australian farm workers in Cosme
Courier Mail
Cosme’s sense of lost ideological and financial investment must have been heartbreaking. Within a few years most of the families started to move elsewhere in Paraguay, sailing to UK or returning home. Eventually the settlements were dissolved as a cooperative by the Paraguay government, and settlers who stayed were given their own private land. Lane resigned as Chairman in June 1899 and left. But even now, there are descendants of the original New Australians in Paraguay, with names like Jones or with red hair.
5 years after leaving Australia, Lane ditched his socialist utopia and moved to N.Z where he returned to journalism for a right-wing newspaper!! From N.Z, Lane was invited by the Australian Workers’ Union to become editor of the Sydney Worker. He was back with the Australian Labour movement but he only for 3 months because his views were no longer compatible with Labour values. He’d advocated a strong imperialistic line during the Boer War!! When WW1 started in 1914, this became a platform for rabid British patriotism and anti-German views. Lane was reluctant to talk about Paraguay but died in Aug 1917 anyhow.
The New Australia & Cosme Collection in NSW’s Powerhouse Museum analyses the socio–politics of late C19th Australian colonial society, history of our labour movement, migration of culture between nations, and Paraguay’s New Australia utopian settlement. See the Migration Heritage Centre with its Cosme Monthly, a great source of contemporary settlement information.
Summary
Paraguay was trying to rejuvenate its economy by offering immigrants free land, tax exemptions and farming assistance. Paraguay made a deal with Lane’s New Australia Co-operative Association - that he’d receive c230,000 hectares of land in exchange for 1,200 migrants. Nueva Australia started off well (1893) and within the first few years, the colony had prominent residents. But by 1902 the utopian dream had failed, due to William Lane’s autocracy and due to the tough South American jungle. Some of the original settlers moved to an Australian community c70 ks away and others moved away totally.
There aren’t many descendants of the original Australians left in Nueva Australia/now Nueva Londres, but there is still an Australian flag on the welcome sign.
5 years after leaving Australia, Lane ditched his socialist utopia and moved to N.Z where he returned to journalism for a right-wing newspaper!! From N.Z, Lane was invited by the Australian Workers’ Union to become editor of the Sydney Worker. He was back with the Australian Labour movement but he only for 3 months because his views were no longer compatible with Labour values. He’d advocated a strong imperialistic line during the Boer War!! When WW1 started in 1914, this became a platform for rabid British patriotism and anti-German views. Lane was reluctant to talk about Paraguay but died in Aug 1917 anyhow.
The New Australia & Cosme Collection in NSW’s Powerhouse Museum analyses the socio–politics of late C19th Australian colonial society, history of our labour movement, migration of culture between nations, and Paraguay’s New Australia utopian settlement. See the Migration Heritage Centre with its Cosme Monthly, a great source of contemporary settlement information.
Summary
Paraguay was trying to rejuvenate its economy by offering immigrants free land, tax exemptions and farming assistance. Paraguay made a deal with Lane’s New Australia Co-operative Association - that he’d receive c230,000 hectares of land in exchange for 1,200 migrants. Nueva Australia started off well (1893) and within the first few years, the colony had prominent residents. But by 1902 the utopian dream had failed, due to William Lane’s autocracy and due to the tough South American jungle. Some of the original settlers moved to an Australian community c70 ks away and others moved away totally.
There aren’t many descendants of the original Australians left in Nueva Australia/now Nueva Londres, but there is still an Australian flag on the welcome sign.