Caroline Chisholm wrote this letter to the Victorian government in 1854. It proposes the construction of 10 shelter sheds along the route from Melbourne to the Castlemaine diggings, to provide affordable accommodation, especially for families with women and children. Chisholm did indeed succeed in persuading the government to erect the shelter sheds.

Letter fromCaroline Chisholm to the Chief Secretary's Department, 15 November 1854; Public Record Office Victoria, Victorian Archives CentreAustralian Women's Archive Project and Public Record Office Victoria, First ladies: finding women in Public Record Office Victoria, 2004, http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/fl/firstladies.htm. [ Details... ]