The Murrays of Warrawang: Scots in Australia

In 1843, James Murray his wife Wilhelmina, and their ten children emigrated from Scotland to Warrawang, New South Wales, Australia. Like many Scottish emigrants, the family travelled to Australia in search of new opportunities for prosperity, while at the same time, maintainingthough they also attempted to maintain their Scottish connections including their culture and heritage. Amongst their domestic music-making collections, now housed at the State Library of New South Wales, is a vast assortment of stylistically Scottish music, which demonstrates the significant role music played in helping the family maintain their Scottish links. Moreover, newly printed music was often sent from friends in Scotland to James’ daughters’, Julia and Wilhelmina Julia and Wilhelmina Murray. Receiving such music not only gave these young women the chance to learn new pieces, but also afforded the chance to engage in important exchanges that meant they could stay connected with loved ones in Scotland. The chapter argues that through music, they were able to maintain links with their former homelandScotland, with future generations maintaining such connections.