1840
January 1 Foster Fyans appointed Police Magistrate at Portland Bay and Nicholas Alexander Fenwick, Police Magistrate at Geelong
Official return from the Churches to the Colonial Secretary notes William W Abbott was a teacher for the Church of England.
Robert Campbell and John McClure teachers for Church of Scotland
Mrs and Mrs John Lynch teachers for the Catholic school
Others as already noted.
2 The Pastoral and Agricultural Society of Australia Felix formed - William Mackenzie chairman.
3 First issue of Port Phillip Herald edited by George Cavenagh. Printed by Joseph Thompson. This is now the Herald Sun (1999)
7 Rev James Yelverton Wilson, minister of Church of England, arrived in barque Indemnity from Sydney. He had arrived in Sydney 14 Dec 1839 aboard William Metcalf.
10 British Government appointed Thomas Frederick Elliott, Robert Torrens and Edward Ernest Villiers as Commissioners of Colonial Land and Emigration Board. They superintended the sale of waste Crown Land and the selection of immigrants.
W A Moore, master of revenue cutter Prince George, reported that the only people at Portland Bay were Mr S G Henty's family, about 30 people connected with Henty's establishment, Mr and Mrs Cecil Pybus Cooke, and Lovell Byass - surgeon. At Port Fairy were John Griffiths of Launceston who had a whaling station there and some people in his employment. Moore also reported that Portland Bay could never be a place of importance, except as an outlet for the shipping of wool.
11 With four white companions and 2 blacks, Angus McMillan started from the station of his employer Lachlan Macalister at Tambo River, with the intention of exploring Gippsland. He named Lake Victoria and the rivers: Nicholson after Dr (later Sir) Charles Nicholson, Mitchell after Sir T L Mitchell, the Avon and Macalister.
21 The ship John Bull arrived with the first shipment of Bounty immigrants - 89 males, 99 females and 31 children. 23 males, 11 females and 13 children also arrived in the vessell as passengers.
23 Richard O'Cock appointed Clerk to the bench
24 La Trobe suggested that the boundaries of Melbourne be extended across the Yarra River.
February 1 The site for a township was fixed upon at Warringal on the Yarra River about 6 miles from Melb.
8 Rev Grylls left Melb for England. He returned to Aust and died in Sydney 24 April 1854.
28 La Trobe requested he be supplied with a full size Union Jack and tackle as this had not been provided at all. He also requested cannon to be mounted at Gellibrands Point.
March 3 Gipps issued regulations for the introduction by private persons of Bounty immigrants from the UK, approved by the Colonial and Emigration Board. They were to be agricultural labourers, shepherds, carpenters, smiths, wheelwrights, bricklayers, masons, female domestics and farm servants. The sum of 38 pound was granted for the passage for every man and his wife, neither of whom were to be of 40 years of age (or more) at the time of embarkation. 5 pounds was paid for every child between 1 and 7, 10 pounds for each child between 7 and 15 and 15 pounds for each child over 15, accompanied by their parents. 19 pounds was allowed for each unmarried female domestic or farm servant over 15 years of age but under 30. The same amount for each unmarried male mechanic or labourer over 18 but under 30. Provision was also made for the payment of a gratuity of 10/6d per head for every immigrant, including children under 1 year, to the surgeon superintendant in charge, provided the authorities were satisfied that he had performed his duties zealously and efficiently. The ship master received 3/- per head, the first mate 1/6d per head and the 2nd and 3rd mates 1/-d per head.
On 11 October 1841 bounties were to be paid on married couples under 50 years of age, who were hale and capable of work and had a family.
3-5 The first race meeting was held at Flemington. Stewards H F Gisborne, W H Yaldwyn, D H Baillie and John Hunter. Dr Barry Cotter was secretary and treasurer and J W Salmon and Mr Hawkes clerks of the course.
Charles James Tyers returned to Melb on the completion of his expedition to determine the position of the boundary between NSW (incl Port Phillip) and South Australia. With Thomas Scott Townsend, he also laid out the township of Portland in Jan and Feb.
26 The Lodge of Australia Felix (Masonic) was constituted with Capt George Brunswick Smyth as Master.
Strzelecki, James Macarthur, James Riley, 2 men and a black boy Charley Tarra, left Macalisters run of the Tambo River on an expedition to explore Corner Inlet.
27 Wilbraham Frederick Evelyn Liardet commenced the conveyance by cart of mails from the ships to Melb. Liardets Beach (now Port Melbourne) was named after him.
April 6 The first Court of Requests was held with E J Brewster as chairman.
9 Rev Andrew Love, minister of Established Church of Scotland, arrived in the ship India from Greenock. and preached at Geelong 3 days later.
17 The barque Glen Huntly arrived from Greenock with 158 immigrants. 11 adults and children had died during the voyage from Scotland from either small pox or fever. The vessel was placed in quarantine and the immigrants landed at a station that was established on and around the site of Point Ormond, formerly known as Red Bluff. Several more died and were buried on the spot. Glen Huntly and Glen Huntly Road derive their names from this ship.
21 The Australia Felix Emigration Society was formed.
22 A meeting was held to form a joint stock company for the purpose of constructing a bridge across the Yarra River. A company was formed under the title of the Melbourne Bridge Company with Donald Gordon Macarthur secretary and treasurer. Operations commenced by purchasing the two punts that were being operated by private owners and shifted to a site between Swanston and Russell Sts. Punt tolls in 1842 were: Foot passengers 2d, horses 6d, horse and gig 1/-, dray 1/-, 4 wheeled vehicles with 2 horses 2/6d, bullocks 4d per head, sheep goats or pigs 1/2d per head and bricks 3/0 per thousand. The toll was double on Sundays. The first bridge toll-keeper was Patrick Doherty who was also unofficial life-saver, having rescued 8 people from drowning in the Yarra. About the middle of 1845 a bridge was begun by Alexander Sutherland. In 1846 it was leased to Robert A Balbirnie. This bridge was superseded by the first Princes Bridge which opened 15 November 1850.
Tom Watt, a builder, had the first punt across the Yarra. He named it The Melbourne. Watt had his licence revoked and it was transferred to John Welsh. Paddy Byrne had a ferry across the Yarra which was sometimes operated by his daughter Polly.
29 Frederick Manton erected a building on the south bank of the Yarra for the purpose of putting together an iron steamer, which had been sent from England in parts. The vessel named the Fairy Queen was launched on 3 April 1841 - the first steamer constructed in Melb. She plied between William's Town and Melb.
Other people in town at this time were: Arthur Kemmis, R H Browne, J B Were and Andrew Murison McCrae, J Hagen. Also D H Ley watch and clockmaker. Michael Carr publican Elizabeth St. Tom Bullock, Moses Lazarus jeweller, William Allington publican Ship Inn in Flinders Lane which was previously owned by John Moss, John Sutch, John Chisholm Collins St draper, Thomas Browne (Rolfe Boldrewood), Michael Pender, Charles Williams auctioneer, Townsend grocer, John Enscoe Queen St merchant, Michael Cashmore draper, William Ames, John Sutch,.
May 25 Melbourne Water Works Company formed.
June 1 James Simpson appointed Police Magistrate.
13 A meeting was held to support a petition advocating the separation of Port Phillip from NSW and the granting of a free representative Government for Victoria. Major William Drummond Mercer was chairman.
14 Samuel Anderson returned from an expedition of the inland country in company with Mr Thom. They did not go further than 50 miles from Anderson's and Massie's station on the Bass River. Anderson stated that the country he had passed through was inferior land. He discovered the Tarwin River and Anderson's Inlet.
July 1 Gipps subdivided the pastoral district of Port Phillip into Western Port and Portland Bay with the Werribee River as line of demarkation. Frederick Armand Powlett appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands for Western Port and Foster Fyans same for Portland Bay.
Port Phillip Steam Ship Navigation Company formed and directors elected. Arthur Kemmis was founder. The Aphrasia, named after Kemmis' wife, plied between Melb and William's Town and also between Melb and Geelong. The steamer Corsair traded between Melb and Launceston.
August 1 A plain stationary light was shown from a lighthouse on Gellibrand's Point. It was visible for 5 leagues in clear weather.
12 Meeting held to establish the Port Phillip College. Only primary education was offered by the Churches and wealthy settlers sent their children to Sydney or England to be educated. The land was chosen but the project was abandoned due to the financial crisis.
18 James Blair appointed Police Magistrate at Portland Bay.
26 The Port Phillip Club formed with Rev James Clow, Thomas Wills, J B Were, Skene Craig, J Roach, C Howard, R S Webb, J Montgomery, F McCrae, Dr Wilkie, D Macarthur, W Langhorne, Robert Deane, R O'Cock and A Woolley.
27 John McKenney appointed Coastwaiter at Geelong. Daniel Primrose appointed Clerk to the Banch at Portland Bay. He also acted as Customs officer and Postmaster.
September 12 A flagstaff was erected on Flagstaff Hill for use as a signalling station to announce the arrival and departure of ships. Subsequently a black ball was dropped from the flagstaff each day at noon to announce the time. A higher flagstaff was erected in 1841 and a small cannon was fired to announce the arrival of a ship at William's Town.
26 Rev Adam Compton Thomson arrived in the brig Jewess from Sydney.
Oct 1 The Independent Order of Oddfellows established.
October 23 Messrs Woolley and Campbell opened a general store at Buninyong.
November 13 James Blair reported that the township of Portland consistd of one good house, 6 decent cottages and a few huts. Pop at least 100. In the surrounding district were about 600 people.
18 The Government advertised in the NSW Gazette that it would make the first district roads. The roads were from Melb to Kalkallo and from the Jika Jika (Fitzroy) to the village of Nillumbik (Heidelberg)
21 Geelong Advertiser first issud - edited by James Harrison, printed and published for John Pascoe Fawkner by William Watkins. It was a weekly newspaper.
A meeting was held to form a Jockey Club - present were William Verner, James David Lyon Campbell, Frederick Armand Powlett, Hugh Jamieson, John Hawdon, Charles Hotson Ebden and George Brunswick.
December 12 The Port Phillip Turf Club formed with J D L Campbell, C H Ebden, J Hawdon, H Jamieson, G B Smyth and W Verner.
29 Edward Brown Addis appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands.
30 A meeting held in the store of Isaac Hind adopted to petition the Queen for the immediate separation from NSW. William Verner was chairman.
STATISTICS 4080 immigrants arrived by sea. 262 vessels arrived and 232 sailed. There were 3 Post Offices - Melbourne, Geelong and Portland. Rev Love performed at Geelong 15 marriages, 11 baptisms and 3 burials
The first book was printed in Melbourne. It's title: 'Latest Information with regard to Australia Felix, the finest Province of the Great Territory of New South Wales; including the History, Geography, Natural Resources, Govenment, Commerce and Finances of Port Phillip; Sketches of the Aboriginal Population and Advice to Emigrants.' (By the Editor of the Port Phillip Gazette George Arden) - preface dated April 1840.
Home Five 1839 or Seven 1841
| 