The race was on to find a new "New America". A clever travel agent, Thomas Cook, and his explorer brother, James, funded a joint venture called the 'South Sea Bubble' to sell long pants to friendly but underclothed locals.
So successful was their venture that they had to devise some form of credit for the cash-strapped buyers. Today, not only is his face still on the travellers cheques, but we are still wearing Cook designed boots, trousers and hats.
Thomas Cook's house, re-erected in the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, was shipped out in error with the Victorian Government bringing out James Cook's house instead. Sadly, his mother was shipped out with it and her remains were only recently found. A huge blunder on P&O's part. Poor woman.
Thomas Cook sent his brother James out to set up a travel empire. That is why he went to Hawaii to look for resort properties. Tom always felt bad about sending James to Hawaii.
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