Summary
Letter addressed to Setsutaro Hasegawa from the Japanese Consulate in Melbourne, dated 6 July 1903. Setsutaro migrated to Australia in 1897 at the age of 29. This was just four years before the introduction of the Immigration Restriction Act which virtually banned immigration to Australia from Asia.
Setsutaro worked as a houseboy in Melbourne before establishing a laundry business in Geelong. In 1905 he married Australian-born Ada Cole with whom he had several children. In 1941 Setsutaro was interned at Tatura as an enemy alien, he was over 70 years old. He was released at the end of World War II, and unlike most Japanese interns he was not deported. Setsutaro returned to Geelong where he remained for the rest of his life.
Physical Description
Single paper sheet with lines for writing bordered by a double red line. It has been folded three times. There is a a round stamp with a central floral design in top left corner of the letter and extensive text in Japanese, written in black ink.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Andrew Hasegawa, Andrew Hasegawa, 8/02/2008
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Sender
Japanese Consulate, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 06 Jul 1903
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Addressed To
Mr Setsutaro Hasegawa, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 06 Jul 1903
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Inscriptions
Top right hand side of letter: 'Japanese Consulate, Melbourne' Top left hand side of letter: Japanese characters and 'Japanese Consulate Melbourne Australia'
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Classification
Migration, Settlement - cultural & social life, Correspondence
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
201 mm (Width), 277 mm (Height)
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References
5 family photographs (need originals from donor to scan)
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Keywords
Correspondence, Immigration, Immigration Policies, Japanese Communities, Japanese Culture, Japanese Immigration, White Australia Policy
