The “Ten Pound Poms” traveled from the UK to Australia to start a new life, priced at just ten British pounds.
And now, a post-pandemic plan to get backpackers back to South Australia is using a new version of the nostalgic offer to attract the young workers they need.
The South Australian Tourism Commission offered young British people who qualified for a business holiday visa the opportunity to land one of the 200 flights for just ten pounds, just under $ 20.
Backpacker Daniel Moore is one of the first to arrive at the new scheme. (Supplied)
Daniel Moore, 29, is one of the first to reach the new scheme.
Already in a hostel in Adelaide, he hopes to find a job in construction.
He has already made a stay on the east coast of Australia, but left home in Kent earlier this year, thinking that his days of travel were over.
But he has been drawn to the Australian offer and lifestyle
Migrants from the UK on the deck of the Georgic, bound for Australia, in 1949. (NSW State Library)
“It was too good an offer to turn down,” he said.
“It simply came to our notice then that my time in Australia was over.
“There are so many opportunities, I’ve been looking for a job and there are so many.”
He said the people of Adelaide were “remarkably friendly” compared to the people of Sydney and Melbourne.
The Ten Pound Poms was the name given to the million Britons who emigrated to Australia under a government scheme between 1945 and 1972. The long voyage by sea cost them ten pounds.
They were promised work and better weather, and the attractions haven’t changed much.
Backpacker Daniel Moore hopes to find construction work. (Supplied)
“I think it’s that feeling of adventure at first; well, I couldn’t go any further,” Moore said.
“Then you get to the other side of the world and some things are like home, in a comforting way. But it’s also very different.
“People live very active lifestyles. It’s just the amount of things you can do, in your social and free time.”
The Carroll family from Manchester to the Georgic in 1949. The ship arrived in Australia with the largest number of British emigrants ever ashore, a total of 1,994 people. (NSW State Library)
South Australia had 27,000 business holiday visitors to the state in 2019, and spent $ 47 million.
That year before the pandemic, backpackers on holiday visas accounted for a quarter of a million Australian jobs.
They contributed $ 3.2 billion to Australia’s visitor economy, accounting for seven per cent of total visitor spending.
South Australia had 27,000 business holiday visitors to the state in 2019, and spent $ 47 million. (Getty)
Nearly 50,000 backpackers arrive in Australia from the UK each year on average – more than seven per cent of arrivals – and 11,000 Irish also head to Down Under.
But unless they were already in the country, backpackers were banned when Australia’s borders were closed for two years during the pandemic.
A nostalgic look at the beaches and beach lovers of Australia
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said the campaign would help fill much-needed job vacancies.
“We look forward to welcoming the 10 pound brochures and all those others who have been inspired by the campaign to begin their Working Holiday Visa adventure in Adelaide,” he said.
After the original flights, 200 flights went out after a draw, more were put up for sale for £ 499 round trip through the Trailfinders travel agency.
Contact journalist Sarah Swain: SSwain@nine.com.au