Scope and contents Describes Jenkins' arrival in Melbourne; setting out to look for work in Taradale; working as a farmhand in Smeaton; gold-digging in Castlemaine; working in a threshing team and travelling from farm to farm assisting with the corn harvest; working for David Kinnersley at Springvale Farm in Learmonth; concludes with Jenkins being contracted to work during harvest at Mr Bennet's farm close to Learmonth. Also enclosed in the diary are letters from his daughters and acquaintances, and a clipping...

Scope and contents

Jenkins continues to work for Mr Bennet on his farm near Learmonth; joins another threshing team; is wrongly accused of breaking a piece of farm equipment by his employer and is subsequently awarded 18s of wages in arrears by the courts; is bitten on the hand by a snake; diary concludes in December with Jenkins working on a farm near Coghills Creek. At the back of the diary is a 5 page description of how to treat snake bite.

Scope and contents Commences with some commentary about farming practices in Victoria, and the mistreatment of the labouring class by farm owners throughout Victoria; Jenkins returns to Smeaton and notes that it has been overrun by noxious weeds; works on a farm near Clunes, noting that the owner is 'a scoundrel, swindler and tyrant' with a poor farming ability; passes a farm where farmer sets dogs upon swagmen walking past; spends some time in a cabin he built himself in the bush; visits the Smeaton National...

Scope and contents Entries recorded in a commercially produced diary bearing the title: "Lett's Australasian diary or bills due book and an almanac for 1874". First 10 pages are printed with general information and dates of note. Jenkins begins the year with a trip to Ballarat, where he watches the 'English Eleven' play Ballarat at cricket and takes a boat across Lake Wendouree to visit the Botanical Gardens; returns to Springvale Farm to work for his old employer David Kinnersley for several months,...

Scope and contents

Jenkins begins the year at Mr J. Whelan's farm at Warrenheip, near Ballarat. He leaves after a dispute with his employer on 12 January. After spending the night in Ballarat, he makes his first visit to Geelong. On 15 January, he starts work at Charles Ibbotson's Spray Farm at Bellarine East where James Finnie is overseer. He is employed there for the rest of the year.

Scope and contents Diary begins with Jenkins continuing to work at Spray Farm near Hobson's Bay; his employer sells the farm and Jenkins returns to Castlemaine to visit his friend David Evans at the goldfields there; some commentary on the mismanagement of land by the Government; some time is spent working at Mount Cameron and Clunes; some news is received that his father-in-law as well as three other acquaintances have died; he moves on to work at Lal Lal Gardens near Bungaree, remaining there for the rest of...

Scope and contents

Jenkins continues working for William Westcott of Lal Lal Farm and Gardens near Bungaree throughout 1877; turns sixty; visits his friends Mr and Mrs John Lewis; offers commentary on farming practices at Lal Lal farm and his daily routines; takes leave to visit the Smeaton show; the trustee over his children in his absence dies.

Scope and contents Diary is hand-bound in fabric. Commences with New Year's celebrations and horse races attended by Scotch and Irish immigrants at Lal Lal falls; Jenkins suspects bush fires are caused by swagmen in retaliation for being turned away; sheep die in the drought; Jenkins attends the eisteddfod in Ballarat; he visits Ballarat to hear the Rev. Thomas Jones preach; several letters by him are published in Geelong newspapers; he suffers with toothache; he leaves the farm where he has been working for...

Scope and contents

Diary entries describe walking to his friend John Lewis's house near Ravenswood; the effects of the drought in the area; a report in the newspapers that Ned Kelly is still at large; building a dairy for Mrs Lewis; attempting to recover his loan to the Lewises and receiving £10 out of £52 that is owed to him; going to stay with David Evans in Rheola; learning his daughter has married.

Scope and contents

Begins year with Jenkins taking the train for Creswick for the harvest, only to find he is too early; falls 22 feet from ladder, but does not break any bones; digs potatoes; Parliament is dissolved; The Boers repulse the English army in South Africa; his daughter Nell gives birth to a daughter in Wales; Ned Kelly is tried and found guilty of murder; a horse named Loafer wins the Melbourne Cup; more immigrants arrive in Australia seeking work.