Australia and the World Past and Present

The Victorian Year-Book contains detailed figures of imports and exports. These allow us to build up a picture of economic activity in the colony in the late 1800s.

Over 12 thousand pounds worth of bacon was exported in 1880 along with more than 8 thousand pounds worth of salted beef. Refrigeration was still developing, hence the need for salted beef.

More than 50 thousand pounds worth of butter made its way out of the colony as well as over 31 thousand pounds worth of cheese.

Flour was an important export. It was worth 256,166 pounds.

Still, this was dwarfed by wheat which valued 603,158 pounds.

We exported jams and preserves as well as onions and potatoes.

We even exported 24,666 pounds worth of coffee.

But this couldn’t hold a candle to tea exports which were worth 258,079 pounds.

Candles were sent to other places – 19,540 pounds worth of them.

An alligator apparently made its way into Victoria in 1880-81.

The colony imported many more cattle than it exported.

We exported 103 pounds worth of leeches.

We imported far more sheep than we exported. Perhaps the colony was in a stocking phase.

All this produce had to be transported around the colony and by this time Victoria was being stitched together by a rail system.

In 1880 there were 197 locomotives. In terms of rolling-stock, there were 382 cattle trucks and 2,803 good trucks and wagons.

In 1880, goods were moved 1,258,254 miles over the rail network.

The general scene is one of growing economic activity. Growing production, increasing livestock numbers and a more integrated freight system.

Source: Victorian Year-Book, Imports and Exports, 1880, pp. 71-79 and pp. 133-134