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Story: Scots

Shetland Islanders on Campbell Island, about 1904

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Shetland Islanders on Campbell Island, about 1904

For many years, in both the 19th and 20th centuries, New Zealand was a favoured destination of people emigrating from Scotland’s remote Shetland Islands. A misguided belief that they would find bleak Campbell Island similar to their homeland led to the employment of Shetlanders by a leaseholder who hoped sheep farming on the island would succeed. It didn’t.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, J. Granger Collection (PAColl 0361)

Reference: 1/4-054553; F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, Scots – The late 1800s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/177/shetland-islanders-on-campbell-island-about-1904 (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 August 2024.