Earl Grey Scheme Herstory: From Hunger to Hope

In 1848, 199 Irish girls aged 14-19 disembarked the Lady Kennaway at Williamstown. They had been orphaned by the Great Famine and transported across the world under the Earl Grey Scheme to relieve poverty in Ireland and populate Australia.

Step into their story for this Women’s History Month event with Williamstown's own Irish Famine Orphan Girls Commemoration Committee.
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with traditional Irish soda bread and enjoy a cup of Barry’s Tea while you're introduced to this under-recognised chapter of local herstory! Hear about the scheme’s historical context and the search for descendants, and get inspired for your own family and local history research.

Could you be related to one of these brave, resilient young women?

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Williamstown Library, 104 Ferguson Street, Footscray, Australia

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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