“Make it easier, help build Australia, bring out a Briton”
Populate or Perish is based upon the experiences of migrants that left the UK to start a new life in Australia, representing their real life experience of each stage. Following World War II, 1.5 million people left the UK for Australia as “Ten Pound Poms” in what was one of history’s largest planned immigrations, between 1947 and 1972.
‘Populate or Perish’ was the slogan the Australian government used to justify the large intake of migrants, needed to fill labour shortages and to bolster its small population and its sense of vulnerability. Ten pounds was the adult fee, covering the cost of ocean travel and immigration, children under 19 travelled for free. Pom is the slang word that Australians use for Brits, hence the label “Ten Pound Poms”.
I engaged in researching individual experiences from throughout the period, but particularly focussed on those that travelled in the earlier years and left the UK, via the Port of Tilbury. I called out via families based in the UK and also tracked people down in Australia. I have tried to capture the essence of their migration, their own personal experience of departing, travelling and settling into life in Australia and often the difficult decision of deciding to return and then for some, going back again. Each stage has been packaged into a clear suitcase, symbolising the motion of the journey and the indefinite significance that these journeys continue to have on their lives. Some objects are authentic, some are recreated and others are symbolic, they are all significant.
Populate or Perish was kindly supported by
