Function and purpose

On 1 January, 1965, Form P2 - Passenger List Inwards - was replaced by the 'Manifest' Commonwealth of Australia, Migration Act, forms M.308 and M.309.  The information contained in the forms is as follows: 

Form M.308 Inwards Passenger manifest - disembarking - The Form is in 2 parts (Foolscap): Part I gives details of the Ship: Name of Ship, Port of arrival, subsequent ports of call in Australia Date of arrival, Signature of master and date. Part II shows Port of Disembarkation, Date, Serial No., Passengers Name and Initials, British or Non British, Intended address in Australia and the Name of the vessel.

Form M.309 Passenger Manifest - Direct Transit: The form is in 2 parts (Foolscap): Part I shows name of ship, port of arrival and date of arrival. The Ship's Master used this form also to note any passengers intended for disembarkation outside Australia who were found, subsequent to the departure of the ship from this port, not to be on board. Part 2 lists overseas passengers who will not be disembarking in Australia, serial number, passenger's surname and initials, nationality, passport number, where issued, name of Vessel.

With this new system the detailed information relating to disembarking and direct transit passengers, previously contained on Form P2, was then recorded on a Passenger card completed by, or in respect of each such Passenger. The incoming passenger cards are held in Canberra as series A1197.

Five copies of the Inwards Manifest (M309), fully completed, were made available at the first port of call, and two copies at each subsequent port of call in Australia.

Series converted from

MP905/1 (part)

MP990/3 (part)

MP1027/4 (part)

MP1095/1 (part)

MP1313/1 (part)