Under the Navigation (Passenger) Regulations/Statutory Rules No.124 of the Navigation Act 1912 "The Master of every ship, whether British or foreign, embarking, at any place in Australia, any passenger to be carried to any place out of Australia, shall, before obtaining clearance for his ship, furnish to the proper officer, in Form P.-1, a true return in duplicate, in regard to each such passenger".

The form had to be presented to the Deputy Director of Navigation at the principal port in each state or, at any other port, to the chief officer of Customs at the port. Statutory Rules No.105 of 1965 repealed the passenger manifests' section.

The second copy was forwarded to the Statistician in Canberra and is now a part of Australian Archives ACT series A906.

The form P-1 has a heading "Passenger list - outgoing passengers." On top is the port of embarkation for places outside Australia which is followed by the ship's name, port of registry, steamship line, master's name, tonnage and where bound to.

Underneath is a listing of passengers giving the following information: name; cabin class; port of landing; profession/calling; whether adult, child or infant, married or single, male or female; country of last permanent residence (Australia/UK/other British/foreign); nationality (British/alien); in the case of alien the country of nationality; country of future permanent residence.

The form consists of several pages, giving on the last page a summary and date of departure with signatures.

The entries are typed copies and the volumes vary, some cover a whole year, others part of a year.

The volumes are grey cardboard or fabric giving onthe spine "Passenger lists outwards" and year.

Related series unregistered

Ships' registers Collector of Customs, Victoria records