Victoria before 1848	Say thanks to ©
Events during 1841

From Diary3 From: "R + L Fletcher" Subject: Re: Diary of Victoria - Part 3 Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1999

1837 January 1 Dr Barry Cotter was appointed medial officer in place of Dr Thompson who had resigned. January 10 Henry Batman was appointed District Constable in succession to Robert Day who had been dismissed. January 26 George Langhorne arrived in the barque Swallow. He had been appointed Missionary of the Aboriginal Mission Station which he established on the south side of the Yarra Yarra beyond Anderson Street South Yarra. February 4 James Smith, secretary of the subscribers for the erection of a wooden church in William Street, between Little Collins and Bourke Street, offered the use of the building to Capt Lonsdale for use as a church and schoolhouse. Subscribers were Batman, Fawkner, James Simpson, William Diprose and Dr Thompson. They raised 34 pounds. Rev William Waterfield who preached there 27th May 1838, described the building as a mere wooden shell incapable of keeping out the cold. Until the arrival of a resident Anglican minister in October 1838, G Langhorne and James Smith conducted Church of England services. Rev James Clow, a retired Presbyterian clergyman, officiated there for about a month after his 2nd arrival in Melbourne at the end of 1837. The Rev James Forbes was the first resident minister and preached in the building for a few months, the first time being 28th January 1838. James Alexander Clarke was the first schoolmaster. February 8 The first race meeting was held on a course extending from Batman's Hill towards the site of the North Melbourne Railway Station. The match was well contested between the horses of Dr Cotter and Mr Brown and was won by the latter gentleman. February 13 William Adams Brodribb arrived with cattle under the charge of Frederick Taylor and John Ewart, belonging to John Gardiner and J T Gellibrand. February 19 Thomas and Margaret Watson were appointed overseers of the Aboriginal Mission Station. February 22 Accompanied by his friend, George Brooke Legrew Hesse, a Hobart barrister, J T Gellibrand left Point Henry on horseback with the intention of proceeding to the Settlement on the Yarra by way of the Barwon and Leigh Rivers and the Werribee Plains. It was reported that on the second day they took a westward instead of a north-easterly course, and were never heard of again. Some days later a mounted party from the Geelong district followed the assumed tracks of Gellibrand and Hesse's horses, until they were lost in the dense scrub and gullies along the Barwon River. A week was spent in a fruitless search on and around the Warrion Hills near Colac. About the middle of April, a search party of 12, which had been formed by the Rev Naylor and C O Parsons, left Geelong, accompanied by a band of Barrabool natives who had received word that the men had been killed by blacks at Lake Colac. Again, it was unsuccessful. As there was no sign of clothing or of the horses, it was also suggested that they may have drowned whilst attempting to cross one of the many rivers. February 26 Edward J Foster was appointed Clerk of Port Phillip. March 1 Sir Richard Bourke arrived with a suite of 15, which included Capt Phillip Parker King and Robert Hoddle. March 2 Charles Boney left Charles Hotson Ebden's station, Mungabareena (Albury) with a flock of 10,000 sheep belonging to the latter, and temporarily occupied a run he had previously chosen for Ebden on the Goulburn. These were the first sheep travelled overland. March 3 Bourke went on shore with Surveyor Hoddle near Point Gellibrand and marked the direction of the principal lines for Quays and Buildings. March 4 Bourke and Hoddle disembarked and proceeded by water to the Settlement by the Salt Water River and the YarraYarra. In the afternoon they traced the general outline of a township. Bourke directed the town to be laid out. Sir Richard Bourke named the township of Melbourne after William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Prime Minister of England. The plan approved by him and prepared by Hoddle was based on one previously made by Russell. It provided for 24 rectangular blocks, each bounded on the north and south by streets 99 feet wide and bisected by a lane 33 feet wide, parrallel with the streets. The provision of lanes reduced by half an acre the original area of each block, which was subdivided into 20 allotments of 1 rood 36 perches. The Governor also gave the following names to the streets: 1. Spencer Street, after Earl Spencer 2 King Street, after King William 1V. 3 William Street, after King William 1V 4 Queen Street, after Queen Adelaide, consort of King William 1V 5 Elizabeth Street, after his deceased wife 6 Swanston Street, after Charles Swanston 7 Russell Street, after Lord John Russell 8 Stephen Street, (now Exhibition St) after Sir James Stephen, under Secretary, War and Colonial Department. 9 Spring Street, after Thomas Spring-Rice, Chancellor of the Exchequer 10 Flinders Street, after Captain Flinders 11 Collins Street, after Lieut. Governor David Collins 12 Bourke Street, after himself 13 Lonsdale Street, after Capt Lonsdale The only building not effected by the alignment of the streets was the dwelling Fawkner erected in William Street, which had been used by him and other occupants as a public house. March 8 A very large number of natives (above 120) came into Melbourne to whom I distributed blankets and clothing and exhorted them to good conduct and attention to the Missionary. Buckley interpreted. Gave 4 brass plates as honorary distinctions for good conduct to natives recommended by Capt Lonsdale. (Diary of Richard Bourke) March 12 Captain Machonochie arrived at Melbourne and Mr Roach. March 13 Lonsdale suggests to Bourke the opening in Melbourne of Courts of Quarter Sessions and Requests, the appointment of a Magistrate, the erection of a hospital, court house, gaol and prisoners barracks. The site for Geelong decided upon. Bourke traverses the area between Melbourne and Geelong. Names mentioned at this time Cowie's Station near Station Peak. Manifold, Sutherland and Russell Stations, Clarke's station at Wereaby(Werribee). Mr Sams Station on the Salt River. Mr Aitken whose Station was 12 miles from Mt Macedon. Mr Brodies Sheep yard near Melbourne. March 28 Edward J Foster appointed Clerk to the Bench and also to perform the duties of Deputy Postmaster. Bourke travells north of Melbourne to Mollison's and Wood's Station before he reached Plenty River. Having proceeded 16 miles, he returned to Melbourne. March 29 Bourke returned to Sydney on the Rattlesnake. Hoddle, having completed the survey of the township, sailed with him. April 10 A Government order was issued by Bourke naming Hobson's Bay, William's Town and Melbourne. He also directed that 5 blocks of land in Melbourne and 7 allotments in Williams Town be sold by public auction on 1st June. April 12 James Simpson appointed a Magistrate. April 26 Hoddle appointed Surveyor in charge at Melbourne. April 30 The Reverend Joseph Beazley Naylor preached in the church in William Street, solemnised the first marriage and also christened the son of James and Mary Gilbert, the first white child born at the Settlement, John Melbourne Gilbert. These were the first marriage and christening and the first church service conducted by a Church of England clergyman. June 1 The first sale of Crown land in Melbourne was conducted by Hoddle. The blocks were numbered 2, 4, 12-14, and the boundaries were: No 2 Flinders, William, Collins and King Streets. No 4 Flinders, Elizabeth, Collins and Queen Streets No 12-14 Collins, Swanston, Bourke and William Streets. Each block with a lane in the middle, fom west to east, was sub-divided into 20 allotments of 1 rood 36 perches each. The minimum price of an allotment was 5 pounds. Ten per cent deposit had to be paid at the sale and the balance within a month. The purchaser of each allotment was bound to erect, within 1 year, a house to the value of 50 pounds. In the bond to be signed by purchasers, the building was defined as 'a dwelling house, store or other permanent building'. Purchasers were not permitted to make any carriage ways across the footpaths as access of that kind had been provided by back streets (Flinders Lane and Little Collins St), in which no footpaths were to be laid out. All the land was sold, the average price 35 pounds. The highest priced lot was the one at the north-east corner of Collins and William streets, for which Adam and William Wilson and Alfred John Eyre paid 95 pounds. June 3 Thomas Smith appointed Gaoler in place of John Walsh who declined the Position. July 4 The James Watt, the first steamer in Hobson's Bay, arrived with mail from Sydney. August 3 Richmond Henty, son of Stephen George and Jane Henty, was born at Portland Bay. August 30 Charles F Leroux was appointed Clerk of Works at a salary of 180 pounds per annum. With his gang of 25 convicts who had been employed in obtaining building material and fencing from the bush, he finished Government House, the residence for Capt Lonsdale which was situated on the present railway yards, about 130 yards south-east of Flinders and Spring St junction. When the railway yards were extended, the cottage was sold and re-erected, with additions, at Carrum. It is now (1935) the property of Mr Phillip Cohen, the former Polie Magistrate. September 5 Capt Foster Fyans of the 4th Regiment appointed Police Magistrate at Geelong at a salary of 300 pounds per annum. Charles Wentworth appointed Clerk to the Justices, at a salary of 100 pounds per annum. Sept 12 Patrick McKeever appointed District Constable at Geelong - salary 3/-d per day and Owen Finnegan and Joshua Clark, Constables at 2/9d per day. Dr Patrick Cussen appointed Colonial Assistant Surgeon - salary 7/6d per day with a loging allowanceof 50 pounds per annum. Lewis Pedrana appointed Overseer to superintend the work of the convicts in constructing roads - salary 5/-d per day. His first return overed the 5 days ending 14 October during which the convicts cut, banked and levelled the intersection of Collins and Queen Streets. John Thomas Smith appointed Schoolmaster at the Aboriginal Mission - salary 40 pounds per annum. October 28 Christian L J DeVilliers appointed superintendant of the Native Police. Fifteen aboriginals were enrolled in the Native Police Corps. They were stationed at the Police Paddocks near Dandenong. Edward Frestun appointed Constable in the Native Police Corps. November 1 The second sale of Melbourne town allotments was conducted by Hoddle. The highest price of 100 pounds was paid by John Batman for the allotment on the north-west corner of Flinders and Swanston sts. The lowest was 7 pounds paid by R S Webb for an allotment in Flinders Street - midway between Queen and Market Sts. In all, 83 allotments were sold at an average price of 42 pounds. November 7 The first auctioneers licence was issued to James Hill. November 18 Henry Wilson Hutchinson Smythe , asistant surveyor, arrived in Melbourne as successor to Robert Russell. December 25 The Rev James Clow, a Presbyterian Minister, arrived in Melbourne. The brig Thistle wrecked at Port Fairy. Statistics for 1837 Population 1264 - 984 male and 280 female. 740 immigrants arrived by sea. Home Two 1836 or Four 1838

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