Advance Australasia: A Day-to-Day Record of a Recent Visit to Australasia.: Second Edition

In Short

Written by former seaman Frank Thomas Bullen during a 1900s lecture tour, this travelogue records a fast-paced journey through the cities, industries, and waterways of Australia and New Zealand. Bullen takes readers into buzzing Perth, the dense crowds of Melbourne, industrial meat-freezing plants, and remote coastal passes. Along the way, he weighs the region’s pioneering labor conditions, state socialism, and natural wonders against the traditions of Great Britain. The work survives as an urgent, highly personal snapshot of two young nations forging distinct modern identities while maintaining an intense, complex devotion to their imperial homeland.

The Story

The narrative begins as Frank T. Bullen arrives in Western Australia, stepping into the brisk, modern streets of Perth. Moving rapidly between official appointments with local leaders and observations of everyday life, he finds himself immediately struck by the contrast between the Old World and the New. Perth presents itself not as a dreary outpost, but as a bright, humming capital wired with modern electric trolley lines and superior roadways. Leaving Perth, Bullen journeys through South Australia and into the agricultural heartlands, visiting local vineyards and still-houses. Here, he marvels at the pure production of Australian wines and brandies, lamenting that British markets continue to favor adulterated European imports over the unblemished output of their own kin.

Continuing eastward, Bullen reaches Melbourne. He is awed by the sheer density of the crowds along Elizabeth Street, the architectural splendour of the city, and the astonishing popularity of massive book arcades. Yet his admiration is temperately balanced by sharp critiques. He recoils at the ubiquitous gambling literature posted outside drink-shops, the corrosive influence of horse-race betting, and the public hosting of lucrative prize-fights in state buildings. He also voices deep worry regarding Australasia's military defenselessness should Great Britain ever become embroiled in a European war.

Moving onward to Sydney, Bullen admires its harbor and grand civic structures—notably the Town Hall and the General Post Office—which he places above those of major English industrial cities. Leaving the mainland aboard the steamship Zealandia, he crosses the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.

In New Zealand, Bullen encounters both the native Maori population and the island nation's striking landscapes. He notes the magnificent physical build of Maori men and their respected role in governance, even while observing their resistance to Western modes of settled labor. In Auckland, he finds a lush paradise shadowed by a ring of extinct volcanic craters. In Wellington, he battles the fierce oceanic squalls that sweep off the surrounding hills. Travelling down the coast, he witnesses natural marvels—including the famous wild grampus known as "Pelorus Jack," who swims alongside the vessel's bow—and inspects modern industrial operations such as the massive, immaculate meat-freezing works.

Bullen completes his circuit in Dunedin, reflecting on its Scottish heritage, difficult harbor navigation, and civic solidness. Throughout his observations of both nations, he explores the rising power of organized labor, the high standard of living enjoyed even by ordinary seamen, and a widespread "spirit of content" that prioritizes comfortable living over relentless wealth accumulation. He concludes his journey with a heartfelt declaration of affection for Australasia and its fiercely loyal, self-critical people.

How It Unfolds

Arrival in Western Australia Bullen lands in Perth and is immediately taken with its well-paved streets, electric trolley-cars, and energetic pace. He meets briefly with Premier Rason and newspaper proprietor Dr. Hackett, wondering how a colony whose politicians constantly bicker can display such obvious signs of material prosperity and civic order.

** touring the Vineyards** Exploring the local agricultural industries, Bullen visits state-of-the-art vineyards and still-houses. He praises the pristine quality of the unadulterated Australian brandy and wine, expressing sadness that these superior imperial products must struggle for market share against prestigious but inferior Continental competitors.

Immersing in Melbourne Arriving in Melbourne, Bullen marvels at the vast, moving crowds and the thriving book trade represented by institutions like Cole's Book Arcade. However, his enthusiasm is dampened by the pervasive presence of race-track gambling, open prize-fighting, and concerns over the region's lack of military defense.

Crossing to Maoriland After admiring Sydney’s grand civic architecture and bustling flower markets, Bullen boards the Zealandia to cross the sea to New Zealand. He explores Auckland's volcanic rim, observes the cultural integration and magnificent physique of the Maori, and experiences Wellington's gale-swept harbor.

Natural Wonders and Industry Bullen travels along the New Zealand coast, encountering the renowned piebald dolphin "Pelorus Jack" escorting his ship. He inspects highly efficient, hygienic meat-freezing plants, marvelling at how modern technology transforms livestock into clean export commodities with zero waste.

Reflections at Journey’s End In Dunedin, Bullen reflects on the Scottish-built solidity of the southern city and the high standard of living enjoyed by colonial workers. He concludes his day-to-day record by praising the deep, enduring love the people retain for the Homeland alongside their fierce pride in their new country.

The People

• Frank Thomas Bullen: The narrator, author, and lecturer. A former merchant seaman with seventeen books to his name, Bullen views Australasia through the eyes of a practical mariner, a patriotic Briton, and a keen observer of human industry. He wants to document the true state of the colonies, constantly measuring their social innovations, civic layout, and working conditions against those of Great Britain and North America.
• Mr. Watson: A prominent leader of the Australian Labour Party and former Prime Minister. Described by Bullen as sane, gentlemanly, and hardworking, Watson represents the pragmatic, non-anarchic brand of Antipodean socialism that impresses Bullen. He stands in sharp contrast to the vocal, polarizing political figures Bullen disdains back in England.
• The Maori People: The indigenous population of New Zealand, represented individually by figures like Hon. James Carroll, Minister for Native Affairs. Bullen sees them as a physically magnificent and highly intelligent race. They navigate a distinct path—participating in government and retaining their language while largely rejecting the European grind of settled, structured labor.
• The Australasian Worker: The collective seaman, vigneron, and industrial laborer of the southern colonies. Empowered by adult suffrage, strong unions, and high wages, this figure enjoys good food and short hours, choosing personal comfort and social stability over the frantic pursuit of individual wealth.

In Its Own Voice

"The electric trolley-car hums along the beautifully graded streets, alongside of which run a very forest of telegraph poles supporting a shimmering network of telegraph and telephone wires."

Observing the rapid modernization and civic infrastructure upon his initial arrival in the bright city of Perth.

"Now the ship was going fourteen and a half knots, yet that grampus maintained his position by her side with the utmost ease, only the slightest quiver of his tail being noticeable."

Watching the famous wild sea creature, Pelorus Jack, effortlessly guide their steamer through the New Zealand coastal waters.

"'People are too jolly comfortable to work hard out here,' said a working man to me the other day, and I had nothing to say about the matter at all."

Capturing the underlying social ethos and content mindset that distinguishes the Antipodean working class from its British counterparts.

What It's Really About

Beneath its surface as a casual travel itinerary, the book is a study of how British civilization adapts when transplanted to fertile, isolated soil. Bullen constantly probes the tension between imperial loyalty and local independence, analyzing how working-class citizens build a society when granted political power, high wages, and adult suffrage.

The narrative grapples with the practical reality of democratic socialism, contrasting the functional, orderly life of Australian towns with the theoretical radicalism of European political movements. It also confronts issues of trade, military readiness, and racial integration, asking whether a small, comfortable population can maintain vast, rich territories without succumbing to complacency or foreign threat. Ultimately, it explores the meaning of progress—questioning whether true national success is measured by industrial wealth or by the everyday well-being of ordinary working people.

Why Read It Today

Advance Australasia offers a vivid, unvarnished window into the early twentieth century, capturing Australia and New Zealand at a pivotal moment of nation-building. Readers interested in historical travel memoirs, imperial history, and early labor movements will find Bullen an engaging, highly observant companion. His prose carries the straightforward vigor of a veteran seafarer, blending crisp descriptions of urban architecture and steamship logistics with candid personal opinions.

The book’s principal difficulty for modern readers lies in its period attitudes. Bullen speaks with the casual racial hierarchies and unexamined imperial assumptions typical of an Edwardian Englishman, particularly when assessing indigenous populations, international geopolitics, or foreign trade competitors. Furthermore, its origins as a series of newspaper dispatches lead to occasional structural repetition and sudden shifts in focus.

Yet what stays with the reader is Bullen's genuine openness to social progress. His unfeigned wonder at the high wages of sailors, the spotless cleanliness of public utilities, and the sheer physical splendor of the Southern Hemisphere makes the volume an illuminating, deeply grounded record of two young societies defining their own future.