"CURRENCY LASSES." 1912

The Sydney Morning Herald NSW: 

Wednesday 21 August 1912

“A Page for Woman”

"CURRENCY LASSES."

The articles by Mary Salmon on the Page for Women are always interesting, and show considerable knowledge of our earlier history, but I was a little startled on Wednesday last when she defined "Currency Lasses" as "daughters of ex-convicts."

I have lately been working up the earlier history of one of our country towns, and whilst reading in the Mitchell Library the books of olden days, came upon the phrases "Currency Lass" and "Currency Lad." 

In all cases, however, it merely implied that the young man or the young woman was born in the colonies. Such people were dubbed "currency" by those who had been born in England and considered themselves "sterling."

No mention was made of convict parentage we read of cricket matches, etc., between teams of "currency" and "sterling" lads. 

I am at present many miles from the Mitchell, but perhaps some of your readers with knowledge of the facts, or those who have access to the Mitchell, can let us know definitely the meaning of the term 

—M. Y.

The Sydney Morning Herald NSW:  

Saturday 10 January 1953

“LETTERS TO THE EDITOR”

"Currency Lasses"

Sir,-In your Australian quiz ("Herald," December 24) the meaning of "Currency lass" as applied to girls in colonial days, was given as "Any Australian-born girl.

Does that cover its whole significance? "Currency" was a derogatory term given to local youth, originating probably from some disgruntled British official who, in decrying the native-born, used the analogy of the colony's depreciated currency in its discount relationship to English sterling.

The public in the early convict days was shy of the then current Spanish dollars and pieces of eight, which traders took generally at a discount of 25 per cent.; also the flimsy notes-of-hand, given out by merchants and squatters.

The children of "free" parents had no social stain attached to them, as with those descended from convicts. 

Class distinctions were drawn most rigidly, often with bitterness. (I can think back to the seventies when these contact memories were still green.)

Free children, not having to bear the obloquy of convict parentage, could not be classed in the divided category. 

They socially were equal to immigrant British children. 

Hence I claim that "Currency" applied only to the children of convicts.

I would quote two passages from Rolf Boldrewood's "Robbery Under Arms.

" Ben Marston, a convict and cattle duffer, had two sons, Dick and Jim. 

Jim had been killed in a foray with the police. Dick was in gaol under sentence of death. He is soliloquising and recalling past events, and says "Poor Jim, he would always go to the mischief for the sake of a good horse and many another Currency chap has gone the same way."

And again: "

How fond I am of a good horse. I'd never been here if it hadn't been for that, I do believe, and many another Currency chap can say the same."

W. P. BLUETT.

Brindabella.

Link to  pieces of eight meaning.