 Preface of Letters from Victorian Pioneers This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Beth Thomas Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Letters from Victorian Pioneers Preface On the 29th of July 1853, his Excellency Lieutenant Governor La Trobe addressed a circular letter to a number of early settlers, nearly all of whom have now passed away, requesting information as to the time and circumstances of the first occupation of various parts of the colony. At least fifty-eight letters or papers detailing the personal experiences of the pioneers of Victoria appear to have been placed at the service of Mr La Trobe, who at the time contemplated writing a history of the colony. These papers remained in the possession of his Excellency until 1872, when, writing on the 19th of March to the honourable James Graham MLC, he said, I have this day addressed a small parcel of some interest to be forwarded to you when occasion offers. As I am in the prospect of a move, as you know, in the course of the autumn, so taking time by the forelock and attempting to put my house in order, I have collected a number of documents addressed to me in 1854 by old colonists, to whom I applied for information respecting the early occupation and settlement of our colony. I intended to have made a certain use of this information myself, but from circumstances was prevented doing so. The day may come, however, when it may be considered of too great interest to be lost, and I therefore propose that the parcel should be deposited somewhere where it will be accessible when that day comes, say the public library or other public archives. On this point perhaps you will consult those who ought to be consulted. I think it may be a little early to make unrestricted use of the contents of these letters. In sending them to you, however, I am securing they are being deposited where they ought to go. These documents, Mr Graham, in the judicious exercise of his discretion, in due course presented to this institution, and they are now by the direction of the trustees given to the public in the present volume. The letters record events which will recall to many persons still living old Victorian memories and will have a great value for the future historians of Victoria as narrating the experiences of actual movers in the early scenes of our colonisation, while they will also possess interest as incidental contributions to the biographies of men who half a century ago began to encounter the hardships and perils which beset the pioneer in every part of this continent. These papers also contain interesting contributions to our knowledge of the aborigines, their customs, languages and conflicts with the white men. And although some of the incidents narrated have found their way into print before, they are now for the first time given in their entirety to the public. It cannot be claimed for these papers that they are infallible records of our early history in every point, but they do contain the first impressions of those who had ample opportunities of learning at the fountainhead what could be learnt amid the hardships of the early colonial days. The short paper contributed by Mrs F.A. Davenport of Hobart was presented to the trustees on the 21st of May, 1884 and will not be uninteresting as coming from the pen of a lady who had special facilities for studying the aboriginal language so far back as 1842. T. F. Bride, Librarian End of Preface Section 1 of Letters from Victorian Pioneers This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Beth Thomas Victoria, Australia Letters from Victorian Pioneers Section 1 J. M. McLeod Tahara, August 18th, 1853 Dear sir In answer to yours of the 29th of July only just received I send you the following information which I hope may be what you require I landed on indented head from Van Demon's land with sheep in July 1837 In September I went with a party to explore. We went round lakes Colac and Carangamite We were the first who went round the latter. The farthest out station at that time was Mr Ricketts on the river Barwon 40 miles from Geelong. He had only been there about three weeks The blacks had robbed him and were constantly driving his shepherds in with their flocks. As we came along the banks of Lake Carangamite a great many parties of natives ran off leaving everything behind them. They were on the mouths of small creeks which run into the lake fishing The stony scrubby risers came so close to the lake they could not see us We were within a few yards of them We were stopped by the Pyrene yellow At night we could not find a forward so we camped in the centre of a small plane tethering our horses close around us and kept a watch about all night There were seven of us The natives were talking close to us the whole night within a hundred yards At daylight two men came to us when we made signs that we would not harm them They came to ask for the black boy Billy Clark As it was about three weeks after Dr Clark had taken him, they wished to know if we had eaten him and said his mother was very sorry and cried very much In October I took up my station on the river Moribel, Borhanigurg 35 miles from Geelong Mr George Russell then lived on the Moribel 12 miles from Geelong He had an outstation on the Lee where his house now is But about November the natives drove three men two shepherds and a hutkeeper from their hut, notwithstanding the men having shot two of them They robbed and burned the hut to the ground so that Mr Russell vacated that river for some months In January 1838 G. F. Reed took up his station on the river Lee Next came the Lea months, Henry Anderson occupying what is now John Winter's station and the Ewells near Bunanong until April About the same time, Stead, Cowie and Robert Stiglitz came above me on the Moribel and about 12 months after John Wallace and Egerton In October 1846 my brother Hugh and I took up Benio on the South Australian boundary where he now resides about 100 miles from Portland on the border of the Malley Scrub There were never many natives in that part What few there are have been very useful but they are dying off fast as in all parts I told them a child is born and when such a thing does happen it soon dies The first natives I saw after taking up my station on the river Moribel was a party of about 20 I was shepherding my own sheep at the time as all my men were shearing I was two miles from the hut but as I had my double barrelled gun with me I signed to two of them to come and speak to me as I wished to tell them that they must not come too near the hut and it was many months before I did allow any to come but sent their provisions to them when they worked for me I have counted 340 together at their meetings in 1843 and 1844 Since I came to the Wannan I have never seen more than about 70 together I know of 12 quite young men who have died in this district within the last two years I had two young men with their wives all last winter nursing them at least three of them One of the women, or rather she was quite a girl of about 13 got the provisions and cooked for the others who could hardly move and appeared in great pain indeed Being in the summer, fine strong young men they became perfect skeletons and they are now perfect wrecks although quite recovered You are perhaps aware that I had won constantly with me for nine years His father and mother gave him to me when about ten years of age and he as well as his parents appeared to at once consider him my property He followed me wherever I went was in Sydney and Van Diemen's land and was very much attached to me He grew a very fine man and his tribe forced him to leave me Fearing you may be in a hurry for an answer I send this as it is having received a kick in the hand from a cult today I hope you will therefore excuse the roughness of it Your most obedient servant J.N. McLeod To his excellency C.J. La Trobe, Esquire End of Section 1 Section 2 of Letters from Victorian Pioneers This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Beth Thomas Victoria, Australia Letters from Victorian Pioneers Letter number 2 from Hugh Murray Colac, 18th August 1853 Sir I had the honour on the 10th instant to receive your excellency's letter dated 29th July requesting information as to the time and circumstances of the first occupation of the Colac country etc and have now the honour briefly to give your excellency what information I possess The Colac country was first occupied in September 1837 by myself accompanied or immediately followed by ministers G.F. and A. Lloyd and William Carter My flock consisted of 100 U's and theirs jointly of 500 which we joined together for mutual protection These sheep were brought from Van Diemen's land at a cost of about £3 per head the price there at that time being £2 We were the only occupants of the country for about 6 months Our nearest neighbour being Mr Thomas Ricketts who occupied a station on the river Barwon about 10 miles distant at the point where Jellybrand and Hessey were last seen Early in 1838 Mr's Pollock during Bromfield and Mr Briggs for Captain Fiennes took up the unoccupied land around the banks of Lake Colac by Mr's Watson and Hamilton and after them the Mr's manifold stretched out to the west and towards the end of that year and the beginning of 1839 the squatters spread rapidly over the western district All those persons I have named came from Van Diemen's land and brought their sheep from there except Captain Fiennes who brought cattle from Sydney I first heard of the Colac country from a party who were in search of Jellybrand and Hessey in August 1837 under the guidance of the reverend Mr Nailer and I believe they were the discoverers of it It may be interesting to state that this party consisting of 14 men fitted out by Mrs Jellybrand for 3 months at an expense of £700 when arrived at Lake Colac allowed some of the barrable tribe of aborigines who were with them to murder an old man and a child of the Colac tribe whom they found on the banks of the lake and afraid of retaliation from the tribe fled back in haste next morning having passed the night without fire for concealment and gave up the search The blacks brought with them on the end of their spears portions of the man and child they had killed which I saw them eat with great exultation during the evening They stayed at our tent in the bar when on their return The Colac tribe of natives was not numerous when we came here men, women and children not numbering more than 35 or 40 From their own account they were once numerous and powerful but from their possessing a rich hunting country the barrable, lea, wardy yalak and jancourt tribes surrounding made constant war upon them and the tribe from having been the strongest became the weakest The extent of their country was a radius of about 10 miles from Lake Colac except on the south where in the extensive Cape Otway ranges there was no other tribe We had very little intercourse with them for the first 18 months their demeanour towards us being always treacherous and dishonest They never lost an opportunity of stealing our sheep at first by night carrying off a few from the fold but afterwards became more daring and drove off a score or two in the daytime from the shepherd These they would take to some secure corner and feast upon them breaking the legs of those they did not at once kill to detain them In such cases the settlers assembled and pursued them and when their encampment was discovered they generally fled leaving behind them their weapons, rugs etc which together with their huts were destroyed I am happy to think that they met with more forbearance here than in many other parts of the country and to be able to state with certainty that never upon any such occasion or at any time since their country was first occupied was one of their number shot to death with one single exception when I believe a man died of a shot wound he received after having thrown a spear and while in the act of throwing another at one of a party in pursuit of his stolen property After about two years they became more friendly and they began to be employed upon our stations I have etc Hugh Murray to His Excellency C.J. La Trobe Esquire End of letter 2 I only received yours of the 27th Ultimo last week which will account for it not being replied to sooner it will afford me much pleasure to give your Excellency any information in my power on the subjects upon which you require it I am happy to say that I am happy to say that I am happy to say that I am happy to say that I am happy to say that I am happy to say that I am happy to say that I am happy to say that you require it In November 1836 I had shipped six cargoes of sheep from V. D. Land to Port Phillip and landed myself early in December at Williamstown and finding the country almost totally unoccupied, I took up the Green Hill station about 25 miles north and posted an out station at what is now called Backes Marsh then without a white inhabitant soon after my occupation early in 1837, M. James Clark, Bacchus, White Brothers and, I believe, M. Powlett and Green took up country beyond me to the west, called the Pentland Hills, and in an exceedingly short space of time that whole country was stalked with sheep from V.D. land, as the arrivals at Geelong with sheep pressed up the moribble till they came in contact with the pioneers of Williamstown. In 1838 the White Brothers travelled west with their stalk, in search of another run, and took up a country about the Wannan, but met with great difficulties for the determined ferocity of the Aborigines, which ended in a conflict and great loss of life to the latter. The M. Wedge the same year took up a run called the Grange, south of the Whites, and also, like them, experienced great annoyances from the natives. In 1839 they sold to William Forlong, who sold to me in 1840. At that period the country between that and Geelong was very thinly peopled, many parts being unoccupied, and that that was taken up was thinly stalked. The aggressions of the Aborigines in that quarter at that time were such as to call for the interference of the Crown Lands Commissioner, Captain Fiennes. In October 1843 I took my family to a station on the north of W. Mollison's, which was taken up by M. Stutton, Simpson and Darlot, in 1841 or 1842, who sold to Rul, a builder in Melbourne from whom I purchased, and called it Turbury, after the Aboriginal name of a large hill there. This station was in a state of nature, and on it I erected very considerable improvements, which are now used as an inn called the Pick and Shovel. The country down the Camp Asp to the Murray and down that river was first, I believe, settled in 1840, but I cannot speak positively as I did not visit it till 1846, when I selected some unoccupied country, which I named Pine Grove from the number of pines in that locality, on the plains to the south of the Murray and east of the Mount Hope Creek. At that period the country round was but lightly stucked. Morroby, the station on which I now reside, was taken up by Captain Hutton about 1838 or 1839. He sold to Daniel Jennings, who sold to C. H. Ebden, who only held it about three months when I purchased it, in August 1851, at a very high rate, under the firm conviction that the orders of her gracious majesty would be carried out in the fullest integrity towards the occupants of crown land termed squatters. The aborigines have invariably shown themselves hostile to the settlement of new country, but became more reconciled as their intimacy increased with the Europeans. I have always been favorably disposed towards them and tried to encourage those that visited my stations in habits of industry by rewarding them well when they did exert themselves, and I would have been most pleased had I succeeded in ameliorating their condition. But I regret to add I found all my endeavours fruitless and extraordinary to say, with civilization they are so fast decreasing from a constant warfare kept up amongst them, together with disease, that in an extraordinary short space of time I believe the race will become extinct. Should the foregoing remarks prove of any service to your excellency, it will afford gratification to your most obedient servant, J. H. Patterson. To his excellency, C. J. La Trobe, Esquire. Letter 4. From H. Norman Simpson. Charlotte Fields. Charlotte Plains. 24th of August, 1853. Sir, your favour of the 27th July I only received by last post. I do not exactly understand what you require me to state, but the following is a brief sketch of the circumstances attending my settling in Port Phillip. Any superfluous matter I hope you will excuse, and anything wanting I shall be happy to supply at any time you may require me to do so. In November 1839 I arrived in Melbourne by sea from Sydney, on my way to South Australia, and made a tour through a considerable portion of the province, and wrote to my brother, who was then collecting a large stock in Manoroo, recommending the Portland Bay District, for which place the stock accordingly started, under the charge of Mr. J. M. Darlett. I may mention that it consisted of 13,000 sheep, 4,000 head of cattle, and 100 horses. When they arrived at Mount Alexander, my brother, who had come by sea to Melbourne, met them, and after exploring to the northward, decided on taking up the country on the London instead of proceeding to Portland Bay. Heavy losses from Qatar and Scab, and the use having commenced to Lamb, being the cause of his doing so. In about June 1840 he took up the station now known as Cairn Curran, and in the occupation of Mrs. Bryant, and during the year the stations now known as Charlotte Plains, Janevale, Langy Corrie, and Glen Mona, comprising all the country from the range to the west of the porcupine mount to the Pyrenees. I returned to Sydney in January 1840, and did not again visit Port Phillip till June 1841, when I arrived over land, and shortly afterwards purchased the whole of my brother's stock and stations. On my arrival on the Laudan, I found my neighbours were Miss Euras Campbell and McKnight, on the stations now Mr. William Campbell's, and on which the Forest Creek and Friars Creek diggings are. Mr. Lackland McKinnon on the station now belonging to Mr. W. M. Hunter, Mr. Colin McKinnon on the station now Miss Euras Joyce's, Mr. Donald McKinnon on the station now Mr. Bucknall's, Mr. McCallum on his present station, Mr. Jass Hodgkinson on his present station, Mr. Cato on his present station, and Miss Euras Heep and Grice and Mr. Jass Charotte on the stations now occupied by Miss Euras Gibson and Fenton. All the rest of the country to the northward being unoccupied. I almost immediately after my purchase sold the station now known as Karen Curran to Miss Euras Cole and Langdon, and shortly afterwards the station of Glen Mona to Miss Euras McNeill and Hall. In about May 1842, I took up the station now occupied by Mr. Morton, below Mr. Cato, and sold it shortly afterwards to a Mr. Sellers, on which then the lowest permanent water in the Lodden existed. In about twelve months afterwards Miss Euras Bear, Booth and Argyle, Brain and Williams and Thorpe took up extensive stations on the Lodden and Serpentine Creek, and the remainder of the Lodden down to its junction with the Murray was taken up in 1845 by Miss Euras McCallum, Curlewis, Cowper and others. From the time of my arrival on the Lodden the Aboriginal natives were concentrated under the charge of Mr. Parker at Jim Crow Hotel, Mount Franklin, and with the exception of murdering a Mr. Allen who had a small cattle station, which I afterwards purchased, between Mr. Cato and me, committed no depredations of any consequence, and were very useful to the settlers in cutting bark and at sheep washing. In the latter end of 1842 Miss Euras Gibbons sold a small station they had taken up below Glenmona, on the 14th mile or Bet Bet Creek, to Miss Euras Foster and Stowell, who shortly afterwards occupied a large scope of country on the east side of the Pyrenees, and Mr. Collin McKinnon, having sold his station on the Lodden, took up a station to the northward of them. In April 1843 I started with some stock to this station with the intention of taking up some new country, either on the Evoca or Wimmera. I passed the north end of the Pyrenees crossing the Evoca, Avon, and Richardson, all of which were completely dry for from 15 to 20 miles to the north of my course, so much so that only for a timely shower I would have had to return. I made the Wimmera abreast the Mount Zero, the north point of the Grampians, and not liking the then-parched and dusty Wimmera plains, I crossed over to the head of the Glenelg, and in June took up the station now known as Glenisla, my nearest neighbor being Mr. Fairbearn, about 30 miles down the river. Mr. Chas Sharot, who accompanied me, immediately returned, and in the course of a month or two brought his stock from Mount Alexander, and took up the country between me and Mr. Fairbearn. Immediately afterwards, Mr. P. D. Rose took up the country between me and the Grampians. At this time the whole of the country on the Evoca, Avon and Richardson, was vacant, as also was the whole of the Wimmera below the Leadcourt station, then owned by Mr. Benjamin Boyd. Now by Mr. Carvay. But in a few months, Mr. Taylor and McPherson, Darlett and McLecklin, Splatten, Pincent, Wilson's, and Major Fryer Brace, occupied the Wimmera down to Mount Arapiles. In 1844 I left Glenisla in charge of my overseer, and returned to the London. Consequently from personal knowledge I can't enumerate any further particulars as to the occupying of the country. During my residence at the Glenelg the Aboriginal natives were very troublesome, constantly taking sheep in large lots by force from the shepherds or stealing them from the fold at night. I had to follow them three different times driving my sheep away, but each time overtook them after several days harrassing tracking, and took from them all the sheep they had not eaten or destroyed, but not without running considerable risk in doing so, and having received several wounds from their spears and boomerangs. The last time in particular they broke the legs of about sixty of my sheep, leaving the poor animals to lie in a heap in a small yard in, of course, the greatest agony, and whilst I was examining them my horse and I were both severely wounded by a discharge of spears from a body of the natives in ambush. The whole of the country about the Pyrenees that I had passed thus on my way to the Glenelg was, in 1844, taken up by Monsieur's Ellis, Elliot and Shore, Mr. James Campbell, Mr. Cotters, and others, and although it has been several times very nearly dry it has never been completely so as in 1843. In 1846, having purchased a station near Albury, I took up a large amount of country on the Billabong Creek, about thirty miles northwest of Albury, but finding it impossible to dam the creek sufficiently full to ensure a permanent supply of water I gave it up to Mr. Charles Hewn, who I believe now holds it. I have had other stations in my possession by purchase, of which I know the particulars of occupation, but as you have most likely received these particulars from other sources I do not consider it requisite for me to send them. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, H. Norman Simpson. To C. J. La Trobe, Esquire, Melbourne. End of Section 4. Section 5 of Letters from Victorian Pioneers. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Letters from Victorian Pioneers. Letter 5 from John Carfrey, Leadcourt. Leadcourt, September 1, 1853. Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge your Excellency's circular of the 29th of July, requesting information connected with the taking up of this station, also with the habits and customs of the Aborigines. In reply I have to inform your Excellency that, having been a resident on this station for only five years, I am unable to give you any authentic account of the first settlement. This, combined with all the original occupiers having left this district, must plead my apology in not going into any detail. Mr. P. D. Rose of Rosebrook has taken a wide circuit, including Leadcourt, and in his report has entered fully into this station. Therefore anything I could write on the matters would be merely repetition. I have given Mr. R. various little gleaning's I have picked up since my residence here, which he has embodied in his report. Trusting my explanation will be a sufficient excuse for not entering into particulars. I have the honour to remain your Excellency's most obedient servant, John Carfrey. To his Excellency, C. J. La Trobe, a squire. May it please your Excellency. I have to apologize for my apparent delay in replying to your Excellency's circular of 29th July, requesting information upon the subject of the first settlement of Port Philip, now the Colony of Victoria. In this my reply I have the honour to state that my remarks upon this subject will be confined to matters in which I was perturbed. In the year 1835 I was a resident of Van Diemen's land, when the rumour of this fertile land reached that place and induced many of my fellow colonists to make a voyage to spy out the land. Their report, being favourable to Port Philip as a grazing land, a number of persons formed themselves into a company under the style of the Van Diemen's land associated with the sheep started for Port Philip. With this party were the Mr. J. and H. Batman and J. Faulkner. Mr. J. Batman and Mr. J. Faulkner settled at Douda Gala, now Melbourne, while Mr. H. Batman returned and by his flattering accounts I was induced to forward to Port Philip a flock of 750 sheep. Mr. Moody having settled the flock with the shepherds returned, and again sailed in the Norval with 500 sheep and 5 shepherds. And on the next voyage of the same vessel I sent 1100 sheep and 7 men. On this voyage I was a resident of the Van Diemen's land. In the year 1835 I was a resident of the Van Diemen's land. On the next voyage of the same vessel I sent 1100 sheep and 7 men. On this voyage they encountered a heavy gale and were compelled to run into what is now called Western Port, where it was deemed necessary to land the sheep. And in doing so my good friend Moody lost his life by the upsetting of the boat in a heavy surge between the ship and the shore. With the exception of 75 sheep which were recovered this large flock became a prey to the natives and native dogs. On this voyage, Mr. Gellibrand, W. Robertson, and one or two other gentlemen visited Port Philip. On their return I was made acquainted with the melancholy loss of my friend Mr. Moody and then set about making arrangements to come over myself, and took my passage in the ship Caledonia, having Mr. Strakin, Anstey, Gatenby, G. Russell, Dr. Thompson, and a few others for fellow passengers. We landed after a pleasant voyage at what is now called Williamstown, where Dr. Thompson pitched his tent, the others proceeding to Douda Gala, Melbourne. Here we found a house of entertainment where we could not get entertained. This building was of turf or sods with a portion of wood, and comprised six apartments of a very primitive order occupied by Johnny Faulkner as a public-house, and was, of course, the Royal Hotel, it being the first and then only public-house in the district of Port Philip. Here we could get a glass of bad rum and plenty of water by paying a good price for the same, but we could get nothing to eat nor a place to sleep in. This celebrated hotel stood on the site now occupied by the Custom House in Flinders Lane or Street. Mr. Batman, having built himself a hut about the spot where the Clarendon Hotel now stands, hospitably invited us to share his home, for which we were exceedingly grateful, and dined, supped, and next morning breakfasted, on a snapper fish and damper, our host being a bit of a fisherman as well as occupying the proud situation of High Constable, having been appointed by the Van Diemen's Land Association, under whose auspices Mr. Batman was thus the first and then the only man who wielded the baton of authority. The Mansion House was a mud hut about twenty feet long and twelve feet broad, the one side of which was occupied by the family of our host, whilst our party, consisting of Dr. Cotter, Mr. Anstey, Maeger, Gatenby, G. Russell—my working overseer Ferguson and myself, seven in number—pigged on the other side in the best manner we could, and were thankful for the shelter. On the following day we got our luggage, provisions, etc., from the ship, and on the next day we started to find our way to Western Port, in hope of recovering the remains of my lamented friend Mr. Moody. We took an aboriginal for our guide, but he, being of a tribe near Sydney, was little acquainted with the Port Phillip District, and consequently no more used to us than to afford us a good deal of amusement by the antique manner in which he managed to roll himself over the soft mud creeks. On coming to a large creek or river which we could not ford, and not being over-sure of our course, we considered it prudent to retrace our steps. Having spent two days and slept two nights in the bush, we were again grateful for the shade of friend-bad-man's hut at Douda Gala, Melbourne, where we were again hospitably received and availed ourselves of our host's kindness for two days by way of resting. We then started for the Western District, some of my men having taken up a station on the river Werribee. Having found matters there to my satisfaction we made our way downwards to the junction with the bar one, which we followed to the station which had just been taken up by Mr. Cowie and Stead on the ground afterwards the racecourse, now a cultivated farm, the property of Joseph Griffin and known as the Old Racecourse. Here we were kindly received and passed the night. On the next morning we started for indented head, which had also been taken up by my men as a station. Here I found two of my men were missing and was informed that they had been killed by the natives. Having seen the stock, et cetera, all correct, we spent five days searching for the remains of the poor fellows without success. About twelve months afterwards their bones were pointed out to me by an old aboriginal named Woolmorgan, who described the manner in which they met their deaths as follows. The men were on their way with a pack-bullock laden with provisions for the Werribee station and were met by a tribe of aborigines near the Muridoc Hill. The men were both armed with fouling pieces which caused the Werribee tribe to entrap them by a stratagem thus, by persuading one that he could shoot an emu. They got him to accompany a portion of their party to the one side of the hill, whilst, under the pretense of having shot at a kangaroo, they prevailed upon the other to go in a contrary direction. Having thus managed to separate the men, the latter became an easy prey to these heartless savages, who also killed the bullock and made themselves masters of a plentiful supply of provisions and all the property in possession of their unfortunate victims. I had their bones gathered together and decently interred. After resting a day, we took a tour into the bush, following the course of the Barwin River to the sea, and much enjoying the romantic and picturesque scenery, particularly the Lake Conowara. Returning by an angle across the country, we made Corio, Gielong, where we were struck with the magnificent scene which burst upon our view as we reached the rise, now the centre of the town, known as Church Hill. The splendour and magnitude of Corio Bay, the gentle rise from the bay to where we stood, about three quarters of a mile, and the like gentle fall to the River Barwin, the Yu Yangs, Station Peak, the Baribool Hills, with all the varied scenery of hill and vale around, closed in the beautiful verger of nature, seemed to proclaim this spot as the site of a great mercantile city. Lost in contemplation, we were overtaken by night and had the satisfaction of finding the shelter of a gum-tree near the place now called La Trobe Terrace. Here we camped for the night. Next morning we made Mr. Cowey and Steads, where we were entertained with a comfortable breakfast, and likewise got our provision-bags replenished. We then crossed the Mouribool River, and afterwards the Barwin at the place now known as Pollock's Ford. We tethered our horses in the valley and walked to the top of Mount Morier, from which elevated spot we had a beautiful prospect of this delightful district, and with the assistance of a good telescope we were able to trace the various windings of the river's lee and Barwin. Also from this mount we had another view of beautiful choreo and its lovely bay. In imagination we could picture a splendid city with the bay covered with ships of all nations, which fancies I have lived to see in part realized. This year, 1853, whilst yet under our first governor, a commencement has been made to remove the only impediment to the navigation of the bay. The town has been beautified by the erection of many elegant buildings, both public and private, and many more have been projected, some hastening to completion, whilst we have also had the pleasure of seeing the foundation stone of the first railway in the colony of Victoria, laid in Guilong. Having thus far digressed from my subject I must return to Mount Morier, where, having taken our bearings, we descended to where we left our horses, and there we encamped for the night, and next morning started across the country and made the river lee at its junction with the Barwin, where I afterwards formed my home station. We then followed up the lee river for about six miles to the place where Mr. Russell's station now is. Here we crossed the country in a direct line towards the Anaki Hills until we came to the Moribul River, where we halted for the night. In the morning we ascended the highest of these hills, from which we had a most magnificent view of nearly all the hills, valleys, creeks, and rivers comprised within that portion of the country, now the county of Grant. We then proceeded to Station Peak, where our view was extended over the waters of Port Phillip, to the mountains on the opposite shore. From thence we took our course to the Werribee Station, which we reached with much difficulty, and next morning we started for Dutigala, Melbourne, intending to return to Van Diemen's land, but finding that our ship had sailed we had to content ourselves and tell her return. To Philip this time we employed ourselves in building a house for Dr. Thompson near the spot now occupied by St. Paul's Church. In this we were engaged about three weeks, and our vessel having returned we took our passage to Van Diemen's land, with the full determination of returning to Port Phillip, having all been greatly delighted with this beautiful country. Being now satisfied that cheap farming would prove a profitable speculation in the new land, as Port Phillip was then called in Van Diemen's land, we entered into a co-partnership to carry it out extensively. In this we were joined by Mr. Swanson, Mercer, and Learmonth, and purchased up the shares and interests of the Van Diemen's Land Association. We took the style and title of the Derwent Company. In the latter end of the year, 1836, I returned to Port Phillip for the purpose of forming the different stations, afterwards occupied by the Derwent Company, and pitched my tent at the south side of Guilong on the bank of the Barwon River, near where a bridge was afterwards built, communicating with the western district. Here I built the first house in Guilong worthy of the name. It is built of weatherboards of Van Diemen's land timber, which house yet stands, and is still rather an ornament to what is now called Barwon Terrace. In this house I had the honour of receiving His Excellency Sir Richard Bork, who had come hither to spy out the nakedness of the land, and with his suite encamped on the banks of the house. It is worthy of remark that on the night of Sir Richard Bork's arrival the district was visited by an earthquake, the shock of which was felt all over the district. Such a phenomenon has never occurred since that time, but I was informed by a very old native, King Muradoc, that such had been felt before, but it was long, long ago. In the month of September, 1837, having finished my house and got all things comfortable for the reception of my family, I proceeded to inspect the stations already formed, and also formed new stations at Mount Mercer and the Ward of Yallowac. And then, accompanied by Major Mercer, Mr. George Mercer, and our overseer named Anderson, started upon an exploring expedition to the interior, on which occasion I was invited to visit the Barwon Terrace. In the month of March, following 1838, I returned with my family, and having got them settled at the station to the interior, on which occasion we formed the station at Mount Shadwell, which was the farthest out station from Gilong on the east Ward of Portland. During this tour I undertook a new occupation. Major Mercer and myself being occupied in shaving, which operation being observed by some of the natives afforded them much amusement, and one of them signifying a desire to be trimmed, I undertook the task, which I accomplished amidst the yells, shouts, and laughter of some heroes, who enjoyed the affair very much, and thus I believe myself to be the first that shaved an aboriginal of New Holland, and that aboriginal the first that was shaved. Nor do I think he ever was shaved again, for his beard was very hard, and the razor none of the best, rendering the operation anything but pleasant, and I much doubt if he would ever again submit to the ordeal. This was nigh being my last joke, as soon after, Major Mercer's servant in taking a loaded piece from the means caught the trigger upon something which caused the piece to explode, the ball passing under the Major's arm striking a tin panicin' out of which I was drinking, and carrying it clean from my hand. The full details of this tour were kept by Mr. George Mercer, a copy of whose journal I beg to annex for your excellencies' information. From this time settlers were pouring into the district from Van Diemen's land and New South Wales with their flocks and herds, and the land began to get ready. Stores sprung up in every quarter, and the whole country began to wear the aspect of prosperity. I here conclude this poor but correct account of what came within my own knowledge, and I feel assured that in most parts it will be corroborated by others, more able for the task than I am, in their returns to your excellencies' circular. But, should there be any particular transaction upon which your excellency may think I can afford further information, I shall be most happy to accept your ability. I have the honour to be your excellency's most obedient servant, David Fisher. His Excellency C. J. Letrobe Esquire, Mr. George Mercer's journal of a tour into the interior of the Port Phillip District in the year 1838. First day, 22nd March, 1838, started from the warty Yaloac SW to Elephant Hill, 22 miles through Tea Tree Scrub. Second day, 23rd March, course, south to Manifold Creek on the Saltwater Lake, 23 miles. Third day, 25th March, course, west to Mount Appan, 12 miles Tea Tree Scrub. Bearings. First, Mount Marathon, northwest half north. Second, Mount Elephant, northeast by north. Third, Warian Hills, east. Fourth, Mount Kate, southwest. Fifth, Mount Mary, north. Fourth day, 28th March, northwest one-half north to Mount Marathon about 12 miles. Bearings from Mount Marathon. First, Mount George, west by north. Second, Mount Janfron, west. Third, Mount William, Grampians, northwest. Fifth day, 1st of April, course, west by north to Freshwater Creek, 15 miles. Sixth day, 2nd April, course, west by north to Mount George, 12 miles, no water. Bearings from Mount George. First, Mount Janfron, west. Second, Mount Alexander, supposed, northeast by north. Third, west end of Grampians, do north. Fourth, east end of Grampians, northeast by north. Fifth, Mount William, northeast, supposed. Sixth, Mount Hill, east by north. Seventh day, 3rd April, course, northwest to Native Well, 12 miles, brackish water. Eighth day, 4th April, course, southeast end of Grampians to River, 12 miles. Bearings from southeast hill, Grampians. First, Mount Alexander, supposed, east by north. Second, Mount Elephant, east by south. Third, distant range of hills supposed to be the Victoria northwest. Ninth day, 5th April, course, northeast about 10 or 12 miles, no water. Tenth day, 6th April, course, northeast to Native Well near the hill, 10 miles, good water, but little. Eleventh day, 7th April, course, northeast to Creek near hill, Pyrenees, 3 miles. Twelfth day, 8th April, course, about east northeast to near the further end of the supposed Pyrenees, 15 miles, no water. Thirteenth day, 9th April, course, for about 6 miles east by south, for other 5 miles southwest by west, 2 miles southeast, distance direct about 6 miles east by south, a little rainwater. Fourteenth day, 10th April, course, south southeast to bottom of low tiers, 12 miles, no water, crossed river and past Stony Hill. Bearings from Stony Hill, first, Mount Elephant south by west, second, Mount Marathon supposed southwest half west, third, Mount George supposed southwest, fourth, end of Grampians west by south. Fifteenth day, 11th April, course, east southeast to Creek, crossed tier and thick scrub, much time lost in cutting round for the cattle, distance 12 miles. Sixteenth day, 12th April, halted this day. Seventeenth day, 13th April, 1838, course, southeast to Creek, 5 miles beyond our warty Yellowick station, now Mr. McMillans. Goodwater, distance 13 miles. Eighteenth day, fourteenth April, course, about southeast to station at the Barwin, distance to the Weather Board House, 25 miles. D. Fisher. End of Section 6. Section 7 of Letters from Victorian Pioneers. This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Letters from Victorian Pioneers. Letter 7. Letter from T. H. Pike Upper Werribee, Ballon. 12th August, 1853. Sir. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 29th of July, requesting information as to my first occupation of the Werribee country, et cetera, et cetera. I succeeded Mr. John Gray, who was the first person on this run. I purchased from him in July, 1842. The adjoining station, Baloney, I purchased from Mr. Keneer, who had purchased six weeks previous from Mr. John Stiglitz, who was the first person that occupied it, having come into the country the same time as Mr. John Gray. The Morton Plains station, in the Wimmera district, I purchased from Mr. Joseph Raleigh in March, 1850. He took the run-up two years before and was the first occupier of it. My brothers at the Penny Royal Creek, now the township of Melton, took that country up in 1838. They were the first persons that remained on it, several others before them having left it as useless. The Aboriginal natives here are very few and have always been harmless and useless. At the Morton Plains they are inconsiderable numbers, but have always been, as far as I know, perfectly harmless, and in many instances very useful. I shall be always pleased and happy to render you or your government any information when it is in my power to do so. I have the honour to remain Your Excellency's obedient, humble servant, T. H. Pike. His Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor. End of Section 7 Section 8 of Letters from Victorian Pioneers This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Letters from Victorian Pioneers Letter No. 8 Edward Dryden, Macedon August 1853 To His Excellency Charles Joseph Latrobe Governor of the Colony of Victoria etc., etc. May it please Your Excellency in compliance with the request made by Your Excellency to me I gladly avail myself of the earliest opportunity of endeavouring to give the information required in answer to the various queries contained in that request and trust it will prove satisfactory. I arrived in Melbourne land from V.D. land accompanied by Mr. Charles Peters with sheep in the year 1837 and immediately after took possession of a run for them at Kilomane where I remained only two years leaving it in the possession of Mr. Robert Aitken. In 1839 I took possession of the Mount Macedon Station which I have occupied even until the present hour, Depasturing sheep and cattle. It is situated to the northeast of that mountain and had not been previously occupied by any other. At this period all the district was but thinly inhabited and still more so as you advanced to the superior northwards few having reached beyond the river Coloban. To the north of my station were two settlers jointly Depasturing sheep and cattle the one a Mr. Hebden the other Judge Donathon who became occupiers of their run in the year 1838. Mr. Mollison in the same year took possession of a station to the blank of the Coloban also Mr. Monroe, Yeldwin and Jennings took possession of the first blank knee sat down and to the east Mr. Jardine and Fulton followed the same example all those parties were Depasturing blank first two mentioned and preceded me in the district about one year of the Aborigines at my time of locating there there was one tribe consisting of about 150 including adult male and females and children of both sexes who camped from place to place in their Mia-Mias and calling at the various stations on their way for the purpose of soliciting food they were unable to converse with Europeans but made signs as the means of communicating their wants or desires they were exceedingly simple in their manner and perfectly harmless in their bearing to strangers possessing none of that sanguine temperament which characterized many other tribes I never heard of a single outrage committed by any one of them upon any settler not even on any of their servants unto the present hour followed me in extending the settled districts around I cannot say anything definite otherwise it would give me pleasure to do so all I can say is that during the years 1840 and 1841 several individuals settled the Mount Alexander and the Laudan districts in answering the queries I have confined myself to the facts which came within my own knowledge only without adopting another person's account should it prove to be what your Excellency required I am most happy in subscribing myself your Excellency's most humble and obedient servant Edward Dryden End of Section 8 Section 9 of Letters from Victorian Pioneers this is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings from the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Letters from Victorian Pioneers letter number 9 from John G. Robertson one day over held 26th September 1853 to his Excellency J. La Trobe Squire, Lieutenant Governor Victoria de So I am in receipt of your circular by last post and I'm afraid I can give you but little information connected with the settling of our district but if a few extracts from the store of recollection will be of any use to you you are welcome to them with part of my own personal narrative I arrived in the neighbouring colony Demons land in the year 1831 and like many of my countrymen with a light purse one half crown and a sixpence was all my pocket contained when I landed at Hobart Town with a few fellow passengers after walking through the streets for some two hours they proposed having something to eat and drink which I could not refuse joining after Bill was checked that it'll know I was left with any sixpence I found it would not do for me to keep company any longer so I left under the pretence of seeing a friend but in reality to look for employment which was easily found next morning I left the ship for my work and never saw any of the passengers again I remained for nine years in Van Demens land as over sear with two different masters on their farms and at the end of 1840 I got about 3,000 pounds from hard work about this time I learnt that one of my sisters had been recommended to come to the colony on account of bad health and that another of them would come with her I determined to form a home of my own and owing to the extravagant price of land and stock in Van Demens land I looked to this colony as the place for I ought to invest my little all in January 1840 I bought 1,000 use for 1,800 pounds a team of six working bullocks two cars and a horse for 195 pounds freight, stores, tools etc. etc. cost 311 pounds with four men at a wage of 175 pounds I left for Portland Bay on the 17th of February 1840 and had to wait near and had to wait near Portland for the return of the vessel I had previously agreed with the Mr Corney to take half of the vessel for fear of a bad trip so as to divide the risk but we were fortunate by care and attention and find whether we only lost 10 sheep and a working bullock of mine had its neck broken to replace which I had to pay 30 pounds for another I had no difficulty in finding a run as the Mrs Henty were applied to by my former employer to forward my views and by doing so they would be conferring a favour on him they pointed out their boundary and I took position of the land adjoining as there were but three settlers here before me Mrs Henty, Winter and Pillow the latter had no sheep but had taken up a run White brothers from the Pendland Hills near Melbourne came on to the Wannan Country the week before I arrived following in the track of the Wedge Brothers who stopped at the Grange passing all that fine sheep country from Fowry Creek to the Grange for permanent water Mrs Addison and Murray arrived on the Glenel River from Portland the same day I came on the Wando and they ran about putting up frames of huts thinking to secure country things that would have kept 200,000 sheep if they got leave to keep it with 700 sheep the same week the second in March 1840 Mrs Savage and Dana took up Nangela on the Glenel Mrs Rentmore and Butcher took up Warwick Station on the east bank of the Glenel and Mrs Corny Brothers occupied Kashmir on the east and west bank of the Wando River Mrs Tuller the Wannan Falls in April following Mr Thomas McCulloch putting himself down between Anderson and Murray, Mr Corny and Self taking part from each but most from me for a fear of going outside where there was plenty of land from fear of the natives the same week Mr Perprick took part of White Brothers Pillows and Tullers as we had all arrived from Demon's Land Direct we knew nothing of the squatting regulation and by the end of April we were all quarreling about our boundary and as we had no communication with Melbourne but by water occasionally we all looked forward to the arrival of the Crown Lands Commissioner and his duties seemed at that time very ill-defined and owing to the conflicting testimony of the witnesses he had a most difficult task to rejudicate although I had contented myself with about 12,000 acres as there was a sort of natural boundary by the end of June when Crown Lands Commissioner Fions arrived I was left with less than 2,000 acres and even the place where my home station was formed was not secure although myself and my neighbour Mr Henty decided on a boundary when he pointed out the land to me Mr Henty procured a letter from the Crown Lands Commissioner for me to remove my home station as it was too near his boundary which letter was not presented to me until the Commissioner had left the district I was exceedingly anxious to get on with my improvements and I liked the spot I had chosen I did not consider myself justified in going on with the improvements until the return of the Commissioner six months afterwards for here I should have to remove my head station by this time my quarter was about the best in the district I had a paddock with plenty of hay and corn for a hungry horse when I learnt that the Commissioner was in the neighbourhood I waited on him about 20 miles off invited him to my place and held out the bait of hay and corn to his horses knowing some little of human nature I did not forget the man as well as the horses it had the desired effect he promised my place the site I had chosen told me I had been misrepresented to him and after seeing his horses next morning offered to extend my boundary in order to put my place in the middle of my run which offered to his astonishment I declined and by this second visit I was put in possession of my original boundary I may here observe that the Crown Lands Commissioner made my place his quarters for nine years afterwards and I saw a good deal of the wrangling among the squatters in this part of the district and I must remark he had a most difficult task to perform there was no possibility of his seeing the boundary of the different lands and if he had it was through thick forest we each tried to lead him astray and where he had never been before his district was large which did not admit the time the land was taken up so rapidly the most conflicting evidence was given by unprincipled men and often I'm sorry to say this it matters so there was no getting at the truth who was the first to occupy the land from what I have seen the Crown Lands Commissioner's office was no sinecure in this district at all events numbers of the young gentlemen who came out to this colony about that time with a few hundred pounds took up runs with three hundred four hundred and five hundred sheep clubbed together and expected to make fortunes in a few years from the way they spoke and the way in which they managed their sheep farms few of them knew anything of mechanics and they were totally unable to make comfort for themselves or their servants in consequence of which they fell back lower in morality and energy than many of their men for dirt and filth were noticeable in places and persons and their pride was who would rough it best they even went so far with their indolence as to drop shaving themselves and it was no bad criterion to know how a man managed his station if the owner was seen looking out through a large wisp of hair on his face the three eventful years which will long be remembered in this colony of 1841, 42, 43 swept off most of these young gentlemen with their herds and all about twenty of the squatters in the Portland Bay District that were fast men were sold off three or four I know compromised for less than half with their creditors three other large stations were so overwhelmed in debt that they are only recovering from it now and there is not one station that I knew but my own and Addison and Murray's in the Portland Bay District that is occupied by the original squatter every station has changed hand either by dissolving partnership letting or selling even that a Murray and Addison this is the third brother of the Addisons two having died I am the only one now that I know of I did not feel the effect of the three bad years like most of my neighbors I had still five hundred pounds in Van Diemen's land to fall back on which all went to carry on my station by the end of 1843 with the bull of that year I bought for my cousin Warwick station on the Glenel with two thousand five hundred sheep and a team of bullocks and all improvements for three hundred pounds this station had been formed by Messrs Rentmore and Butcher and Mr Wilmore in Van Diemen's land and cost that gentleman five thousand seven hundred pounds forming and keeping it for three years Nangelo was offered to me a few days after with the same number of sheep for four hundred pounds which station had been bought by the gentleman who offered it to me at a sheriff's sale in Melbourne for two hundred and thirty pounds the price of a tray and a team of six bullocks with the expenses of bills and law added that had been bought for the station in 1841 and paid for by bill at the time as I had before said in the three years from 1840 to 1843 I had invested three thousand pounds in my sheep station it is true that in that time the station had fallen in value to three or four hundred pounds but still the money was sunk I did not come here as a sheep farmer with the intention of making a fortune in a few years and leaving I came with the intention from the first to form a comfortable home for myself and to his sisters and live by the way making and having as many little comforts within ourselves as the country could afford with frugality and industry as an eating feature with us we kept only one house servant and often none so that the house giving its expenses never reached three hundred pounds a year I commenced with one thousand sheep at the end of five years there was seven thousand three hundred sheep on the run and from eight thousand to ten thousand is the number I keep on it when full stocked there are eleven thousand eight hundred ten acres of land a pretty little station well watered I should have been here fourteen years in March next and all the cash I have taken out of the concern is five thousand three hundred and twenty four pounds with expectations fifteen hundred more in will now coming into the London market it is true if my stock and station just now was sold they would ring with purchased land and improvements about dating thousand pounds but if the government resumed the land and got away for any purpose the stock and station that is purchased land would not be worth more than four thousand pounds so that I have worked hard for fourteen years for eleven thousand nine hundred and twenty four pounds and three thousand pounds of this sum was money invested I may here mention that four thousand three hundred and twenty four pounds of the above money was given away as it was saved to relatives who needed it I never had money at interest since I came here this eleven thousand eight hundred twenty four pounds gives me somewhere about eight hundred forty five pounds a year suppose my run to be required by government and if you deduct interest on the three thousand pounds at the rate of twelve and a half percent which merchants charge for money borrowed on stations that would leave me a clear profit of four hundred and seventy five hundred pounds a year for the last fourteen years and allow only for the keep of my self and wife and for my labour for which I received five hundred pounds a year and keep when I left Van Diemen's land the above is a true statement which I can show data for at any time and you may make such use of it as you think proper there is not a station in the Portland district better managed for its size both as regards economy of man and beast in it and I've always endeavoured to live as a farmer should do with such an income I have no doubt there are numbers here who make their stations pay better but most of them live little better than my pig does and this kind of sheep farmer mostly when he goes to town does not like to return to his station and often spends a deal of money at taverns in town because he has such a home in the month of June 1840 the station that is Willison Swanson's the Nelg Pigeon Ponds Chetwind was taken up by Thomas Norris for a Van Diemen's land company of four gentlemen Mrs W&A for long sold their farm of three thousand acres in Van Diemen's land for nine thousand sheep and William for long went into partnership with three merchants in Hobart town to go to keep all the female stock until they had one hundred thousand sheep sell the male stock the manager Norris to have five hundred pounds a year and ten percent on the sale of stock two of the merchants turned out to be men of straw the other Mr Thomas Winter told me he had nine thousand pounds in cash to keep the station going for two and a half years and Mr Winter came over in the winter of 1843 to try what he could do to recover his money they sent four thousand sheep to Hobart town but they hardly paid the freight he then left to sell the place when he found he could not carry it on for W&A money and the splendid rum with twenty thousand sheep was sold to the merchants in Hobart town for nineteen hundred pounds and it required all the purchase money to pay the liabilities but poor Mr Winter lost all his nine thousand pounds Mr Forlong lost all his sheep to show the reckless way business was managed in those days William and Andrew Forlong were partners in some purchased land near Melbourne William Forlong only in the sheep station above William offered Andrew his share of this sheep station for the share in the land near Melbourne which was accepted by Andrew and it was not until Mr Andrew Forlong arrived as far as my place to arrange with Mr Winter that he learnt it was sold to pay the debts of the station and delivered only the day before he came here this was partly to be attributed to the want of postal communication as I had before remarked for our letters were sent from here to Van Demen's land and from thence to Melbourne in those days in October of 1841 Mrs Jackson and Gibson from Melbourne came on the remaining unoccupied land on the right and left banks of the canal between Warwick on the right and Nangela on the left as far as the company stations at Winter Forlong and others thus 14 miles on both sides of the river this was the father's west station for two years in the Gibson family there were two ladies on the verge of the wilderness one of them an old lady of 70 years of age Mr Jackson left for Scotland leaving his station in charge of a Mr Bell who occupied the Durgaum station on the west bank Mr Gibson occupying Rose Neath on the east bank about six miles apart the ladies Mrs Gibson and Mrs McFarlane lived in tents for ten months Mr G was but an indifferent manager and had indeed hardships to encounter soon after they arrived they congregated a large number of natives about their place whom they kept hanging about doing and undoing to keep them employed the ladies were anxious to get a garden formed as they had a quantity of English seeds they got the natives to work in the garden for them but they were expensive labour I have gone to the station and found as many as 20 natives around the place and not one white man near the station Mr Gibson and his men being away splitting or doing something from home I used to expostulate with them about the impropriety of allowing the natives to remain about the place when there was no one about but the two females Mr and Mrs G just laughed and said there were poor homeless creatures and the only precaution used was Mrs G carried a broken three-barreled pistol in a leather belt which she wore around her middle this formed part of her toilette on one occasion Mr G and his only available men were making hurdles and they were in want of nails that were at Durgum station six miles off Mrs G, who was fond of writing offered to go for the nails as there was so much wanted and to take one of the black men for a guide they arrived at Durgum the six miles Mrs G, riding the black man Yarra, walking they got six pounds of nails and only the bag which Yarra had to carry on the way back in a thick forest Yarra, who was a little before on a drake cart stopped suddenly caught the bridle of Mrs G's horse ordered her to get off and walk and he would ride Mrs G had presence of mind to pull out her pistol from her belt under her shawl and presented it at the man who let go the bridle in a moment with her whip she struck her horse which dashed off and saved her life some days after Yarra brought home the nails and they all laughed at the affair which they told me some nights after that there was nothing there to laugh at a few days after this Mrs McFarlane was in the garden with some of her poor black creatures as she called them and she was reproving one of them for pulling up the young potatoes Yarra came running at Mrs McFarlane with an uplifted rake evidently to strike Mrs McFarlane when Mrs G heard the scream and rushed up at the pistol in her hand all the natives nine or ten of them leapt over the fence and were no more seen in the evening the shepherd at the home station did not come home his dog brought about 300 sheep long after dark Mr G the only man about the place next morning went in search of his shepherd and sheep poor dog went direct to the dead shepherd about a mile from home Mr G had to walk about six miles to Bell's for his own horses were away Mr Bell had one man and Mr G tracked the sheep through the long heath towards the Wando and there they found about 500 sheep coming back again which they had to return with Mr Bell rode 21 miles for me and two others about three in the afternoon Mr G returned with the 500 sheep about the same time still 700 away five of us started leaving Mr G to take care of the ladies as they had been thus without the least protection all day and now became afraid to stop by themselves all night with the dead shepherd after a smart ride of 14 miles we came upon the main body of the sheep but no natives the sheep were nearly all dead such wanton destruction no one but those who saw it can imagine there were 610 fine ewes just about to land for which 42 shillings ahead have been paid to the year before all dead some skinned others skinned and courted some cut open and the fat taken out and piled in skins but most of them just knocked on the head meat, fat and all mixed up the fine sand of the stringy bark forest it was quite evident the natives had left in the morning for it all was cold and we saw no cooking or cooked meat we agreed to all ride back for two miles taking the few living sheep with us and one man being left with the horses to creep back after dark and then all remain but no natives came we returned to rose neath in the morning buried the shepherd and six of us started in search of the natives but never found any of them for two days I was out on the third night two of our horses got away one of them was mine and I had to walk home which I was afterwards very glad of for the party fell in with an unfortunate native and ran him down and I believe shot him in retaliation and I know have no doubt he never heard of Mr. G's sheep on my way home I came to an outstation hut of my neighbors for a drink of water and there was our friend Yara the native chopping wood for the hut keeper I looked at him closely and saw a pair of Mr. G's old trousers he had on him at the time all smeared with blood whether the poor shepherds or the sheep sign no not I was only a mile from home and there I found Mr. Gibson's bullet driver with his team and two men splitters returning from Portland on his way home I told the bullet driver what had happened and that I saw Yara at the hut and if he could take Yara on with him in the morning in his tray he might perhaps tell who had killed the shepherd they called friend Yara and easily induced him to go with them but when he came inside of the station he got off the drain and was running away when one of the splitters shot him so ended poor Yara after this there was a constant war kept up between the natives and the two stations, Bells and Gibson's and I regret to say a fearful loss of life to the poor natives by two young heartless vagabonds Gibson and Bell had as overseers when they left the first day I went over the Wando Vale station to look at the ground I found old Maggie that Sir Thomas Mitchell gave the tomahawk to fishing for mussels with her toes in a waterhole up to a middle near where the major crossed that stream poor Maggie died about 14 days since a dreadful sufferer from rheumatism nearly all her male relatives were killed three days before I arrived on the Wando by white brothers three days after the whites arrived the natives of this creek with some others made a plan to rob the newcomers as they had done with the Mrs. Henty before they watched an opportunity and cut off 50 sheep from white brothers' flocks which were soon missed and the natives followed they had taken shelter in an open plain with a long tea tree which the white brothers party seven in numbers surrounded and shot them all but one 51 men were killed and the bones of the men and sheep lay mingled together bleaching in the sun at the fighting hiddles must have been a great relief to me and most of this part for the females were mostly chased by men up the good and elk and the children followed them I learnt since from them the man who escaped was afterwards known as Long Yara a very fine Lurie man he afterwards lived with some time with a Mr. Dash a settler who had taken a fancy to Yara's gin, lure queen there had been some very unpardonable conduct on the part of Mr. Dash who I was of opinion was at times deranged in the autumn of 1843 Mr. Dash and his man Larry went to strip bark taking a bullet tray, Long Yara and another native with them about eight miles back on the Adelaide road intending to stop out all night as soon as they were gone lure queen went away taking her child with her and did not return and on the third day the shepherd put his flock in the pen and came for us he went out following the track of the day and came on the dead body of Larry with two eagles pecking the remains of his skeleton and at a short distance Mr. Dash they had been in bed when they were attacked and a frightful struggle they must have had for Mr. Dash was a very strong man it was evidently a concerted affair there being a number of natives and knew a queen leaving which he had not done before a Mr. Dash of Dash on the Glen Elgrun near me kept a harem for himself and his men the consequence was he like many more had to sell out all the men and masters got feverly diseased from these poor creatures they of course quarreled with the natives about their gins and the natives to be revenged for some of the insults took away 48 eagles and lambs they were followed by some of the neighbors and Mr. Dash's own men they rushed their camp shocked to as the natives one of them a female said to be Mr. Dash's foremost black woman all the sheep were dead which they burned and one of the neighbors who was out brought with him to my house for the night a native basket or bean act with all the female paraphernalia of red and white clay to paint a flint logs, some shells and a very neat female foot half grilled with a large mouthful taken out of the hollow part of the foot my neighbor brought these to me as he said he knew I was curious about such things in the end of 1843 I was passing through the run when I came on a black lad crying with his face spearfully scolded I asked him how it happened all I could get out of him was George had thrown a pot of tea in his face I took him home with me and dressed his face with lime water and oil he felt grateful for what I had done for him and he was the first I ever allowed about my place he and his wife and child are the only ones ever employed by me they have been with me ever since and I give them 12 shillings a week and two rations he is always very clean but the woman Jenny is never clean the native lad Joe told me he was defending his gin which he had just got from the man George a bullet driver when he pitched the scalding tea in his face and this man was the terror of all the fighting men on the Glen Elg about this time Mr McCulloch parted with his overseer who was too quiet and short-sighted and always lost himself in the bush he was stopping with Mr Corny until he had an opportunity of returning to Van Diemen's land he went out gathering mushrooms about 800 or 900 yards from Mr Corny's house he had a red handkerchief gathering them in when a native started up a few yards from him asked his name and he said George immediately another rose behind him and spoke to the front native who dashing his spear at Mr Lewis struck him on the breast he turned and now another spear and about four inches of the spear broke off close in the wound which we had to open up and we took out the spear with a pair of pliers the poor man was very ill afterwards but I think as much frightened as hurt he used to say in his sleep that the men were eating him which he seemed to have a great horror of he often used to say if he had called himself Lewis instead of George the natives would not have touched him this is the only outrage I have known of were the whites were not the first aggressors or that the natives had not theft in view in all my rambles I've never seen but five natives in a state of nature I've never thought them numerous I'm sure I've never seen 500 or put together from the Grampians to the sea I do not mean to say that there were not more but if I were to believe what I've heard of as having been killed in different affrays with the settlers they would amount to more than that number I have on four different occasions when they committed murders gone out with others in search of them and I now thank my God I never fell in with them there is no doubt I should be like many others and feel that sting which must always be felt by the most regardless of the deed done to those poor creatures and in 20 years more there will be not one in the Portland District there are now about two settlers in the Portland District that know who have been severe on the natives and they are doing little good it seems strange none have done any good who were murderers of these poor creatures either man or master I will here change the subject for it is too painful to dwell on and I cannot see the way it could be avoided for no law could have protected these poor people from such men as we had to do with at that time when I arrived through the thick forest land from Portland to the edge of the Wanon Country I cannot express the joy I felt at seeing such a splendid country before me for my little all that I was driving before me was to feed the whole of the Wanon have been swept by bushfire in December and there had been a heavy fall of rain in January which has happened less or more for the last 14 years and the grasses were about four inches high of that lovely dark green the sheep had no trouble to fill their bellies all was eatable nothing had trodden the grass before them I could neither think nor sleep for admiring this new world to me who was fond of sheep I looked upon the 37 grasses that formed the pasture of my run there was no silk grass which had been destroying a van demon's land pastures for I had watched its progress with uneasiness and I wrote to my friends there that I had never been able to detect any of this noxious grass the fire had been so great that one couldn't get as much grass at our hut we were obliged to take large cut tail grass out of the waterholes the sheep thrived admirably but the little care were clean from the scab and I did not know that there was such a thing as clean sheep the few sheep at first made little impression on the face of the country for three or four years the first great change was a severe frost 11th November 1844 which killed nearly all the beautiful blackwood trees that stuttered the hills in every sheltered nook some of them really noble 20 or 30 years old nearly all were killed in one night the same night a beautiful shrub that was interspersed among the backwoods Sir Thomas Mitchell called that Acacia glutinosa was also killed about three weeks after these trees and shrubs were all burnt they now sought to recover as they were due after a fire this certainly was a sad chance before this catastrophe all the landscape looked like a park with shade for sheep and cattle many of our herbaceous plants began to disappear from the pasture land the silk grass began to show itself on the edge of the bush track and in patches here and there on the hill the patches have grown larger every year herbaceous plants and grasses give way for the silk grass and the little annuals beneath which are annual peas and die in our deep clay soil with a few hot days in spring nothing returns to supply their place until later in the winter following the consequences that the long deep rooted grasses that held our strong clay hill together have died out the ground is now exposed to the sun and just cracked in all directions and the clay hills are slipping in all directions also the sides of the precipitous creeks long slips taking trees and ore with them when I first came here I knew a bit of two land slips both of which I went to see now there are hundreds found within the last three years a rather strange thing is going on now one day all the creeks and little watercourses were covered with a large tussocky grass with other grasses and plants to the middle of every watercourse but the canal can be wonnen and in many places of these rivers now that the only soil is getting trodden hard with stock springs of salt water are bursting out in every hollow or watercourse and as it trickles down the watercourse the strong tussocky grasses die before it with nil others the clay is left perfectly bare in summer the strong clay cracks the winter rain washes out the clay now almost every little gully has a deep rut when rain falls it runs off the hard ground rushes down these ruts runs into the larger creeks and is carrying earth trees and all before it over wonnen country is now as difficult to ride as if it were fenced ruts seven, eight and ten feet deep and as wide are found for miles where two years ago it was covered with tussocky grass like a landmarsh I find from the rapid strides the silk grass has made over my run I will not be able to keep the number of sheep the run did three years ago and as a cattle station it will be still worse it requires no great prophetic knowledge to see that this part of the country will not carry the stock that is in it a present I mean the open downs and every year it will get worse as it did in Van Diemen's land and after all the experiments I worked with English grasses and any of them that would replace our native spore the day the soil is turned up that day the pasture is gone forever as far as I know for I had a paddock that was sown with English grasses and squares each by itself and mixed in every way all was carried off by the grubs and the paddock allowed to remain in native grass which returned in eight years nothing but the silk grass grew year after year and I suppose it will be sown on to the end of time Dutch clover will not grow on our clay soils and for pastoral purposes the lands here are getting a less value every day that is with the kind of grass that is growing in them and will carry less sheep and far less cattle I now look forward to fencing my run in with wire the rest of keeping up my stock on the land I am this here your most obedient servant John G. Robertson End of section 9 section 10 of Letters from Victorian Pioneers this is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Letters from Victorian Pioneers letter number 10 from Charles Whale Sherrod Cresix Creek 10th of August 1853 my dear sir in answering your letter of the 27th of July I feel much pleasure in sending you all the information I can remember as to the original settlers in the western port district beginning at the eastern head of western port bay and taking the route towards Melbourne with a few deviations was Massey and Anderson's cultivation known then as the Old Settlement Station from the circumstance of there having been a settlement formed there some years previous they're not at the exact spot they occupied and afterwards abandoned at that period namely 1841 to 43 a considerable quantity of wild cattle was running in neighbourhood supposed to have been the increase of some that were left when the original settlement was abandoned about 2 miles from them was Armstrong who succeeded John Tom who succeeded Massey and Anderson about 5 miles from Armstrong were Cuthbert and Gardner original settlers whose cattle I piloted myself from the Red Bluff I believe in 1842 about 12 miles up the bay fits her but in Monday original settler Red Bluff about 7 miles from him Martin who succeeded Robert Jameson about 4 miles from him Robert Jameson original settler these were all the stations at that time on the eastern side of the Saltwater Inlets on crossing them about 3 miles on was Manton's original settler cultivation and cattle station about 8 miles from him Charles Dodd original settler on the south side of the creek the name of which I forget on the north Turnbull and Ryock original 2 miles from them on another creek was Dr. Jameson original 2 miles from him on the same creek Captain Howey I forget him he succeeded 3 miles from him same creek Captain Minton original who was killed by a tree falling on him to return to the road to Melbourne from Dodds about 3 miles were bathed into Perry original 3 miles from them north of the road O'Connor original and about the same distance on the other side of the road the Ruffys original 3 brothers about 8 miles from them and 3 from the road Bacchus and Woolly original next Dandenong Dr. McCrae original up the creek the Blacks station Thomas protector next I believe the reverend Mr. Clare next Mrs. Scott on the same creek 7 miles from Dandenong on the Melbourne Road the no good damper inn kept at that time by de Villers and 5 from that the man's station which was the last station I knew towards Melbourne I must apologise for sending you such a vague account it is now sometimes since I was in this country and since my return I have never visited western port and consequently I do not know by whom these stations may now be occupied and the original names of stations and creeks I have forgotten almost entirely my chief residence fighting that district during the years 1841 to 43 was at Robert Jameson's I never had a station in Victoria myself the natives seldom visited the country on the eastern side of the inn that's except on more excursions Robert Jameson station was attacked by Blacks but it was before I knew it they were supposed to be Gippsland natives in conclusion I beg to state that all goes on well here with the gold miners and the yield of gold continues steady I beg to subscribe myself yours very truly Charles Whaled Sherrod to his excellency C.J. La Trobe End of section 10 section 11 of letters from Victorian pioneers this is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org letters from Victorian pioneers letter number 11 from Thomas Lehmann Sir Bunning-Yong 11th of August 1853 at your excellency's request I have the honour to forward the following memoranda regarding the first occupation of the country in the districts of the Baowan, Moorabool, Bunning-Yong and Mount Emu in which my brother and myself were personally concerned the narrative is very brief and meagre but may at least serve to mark dates early in 1837 a fleet of small vessels perhaps 15 or 20 in number and each carrying from 301,000 sheep was employed in conveying stock from the Tamar on the opposite coast of Andean's land from January to the middle of May during the prevalence of the easterly winds in Bassas Straits the vessels were much crowded and the sheep were generally on board for seven or eight days so that from want of a proper supply of food and water or from stormy weather whole shipments were sometimes almost entirely lost on the passage or shortly after landing the average loss however on these importations was probably about 15% the sheep were purchased in Van Diemen's land at prices varying from 20 shillings to 35 shillings and the freight and expenses were about 5 or 6 shillings ahead more the original stock being composed entirely of breeding sheep the first settlers lived exclusively on solid provisions during the first year of their occupation the purchase of which and the large expenses necessarily incurred in forming their stations added to the small increase and the loss of wool from the fever by the crowded vessels entirely absorbed the profits of several seasons and in some cases ruined the adventurers the first stations were commenced with flocks varying from 500 to 1500 and one or two such as the Clyde Company and Doent Company under the management of Mr George Russell and Mr D Fischer had 3,500 used respectively in the month of April of that year, 1837 my brother and I landed 3 cargos from Van Diemen's land or about 2,000 used and we purchased 1,000 more at 2 Guinness ahead these we drove up the Barwon River to a place about 20 miles from Geelong and occupied a run on each side of the river and another on the native creek to the eastward of the Lee about a month previous to this news had arrived of the loss of Mrs Jelliver and Hess in the country towards the sources of the Barwon or towards Colac and as the upper regionies were committing depredations within 15 miles of Geelong which at that time had not even a hut to mark its present site settlers were afraid to penetrate into the interior in order to take up runs and a line drawn at little more than 25 miles from the shores of Port Phillip Bay comprised nearly the whole of the sheep stations at that time and for some months later in the occupation of the country there was a tacit understanding that no one was to take up a station nearer than 3 miles to another person the intervening ground being equally divided and this regulation in general was sufficient to secure harmony among the adventurers as they arrived there being no crown commissioner however at that time nor any recognised authority but that of the strongest feuds and quarrels with regard to boundaries did take place which in some cases resulted in blows though in general more good feeling and consideration for the rights of others were observed in the then lawless state of the infant colony than might have been expected as it may be interesting in a record of this kind to give the names of the earliest adventurers I enclose a rough map of the country on which the stations occupied at the day that I arrived May 1837 unnoted in red ink those of which I shall now speak and which were occupied in the following year that is up to May 1838 are marked in black ink in August 1837 a party consisting of Mr Darcy a government surveyor G. Russell, Anderson Fisher, Dr. Thomson and myself took a horse cart and with a tent and provisions and one of the aboriginals as a guide in order to explore the country in the neighbourhood of Bananyong the only hill that breaks the horizon to the north west of Geelong we reached the hill on the second day ascended it and being disappointed by the thickly wooded and inferior nature of the country from want of food for two days having separated from the cart the party broke up some returning down the Mooribool to the settled district while the remainder and getting on the track of the cart followed it and continued their exploration to lead by the native to Lake Burrenbeat 20 miles to the northward of Bananyong the water of the lake was at that time brackish and the country was thought to be too distant for occupation the party therefore returned on our return home we learnt from a person who with others had been in pursuit of a tribe of natives to the west of Lake Colac in order to recover some property that had been stolen by them from Mr Ricketts the furthest settler that a large sheet of salt water had been discovered that they could not see across it in one direction and that there were shells and the appearance of the rise and fall of the tide on its shores as soon therefore as we could arrange a second party we again started to explore this place which from our informants account seemed to be an arm of the sea we were six in number Dr Thompson Mrs C Hutton, G F Reid W Scott, my brother and myself and set out in September 1837 we travelled by Mount Jellibrand crossed the border yallock near its mouth reached a hill which we named Mount Elephant a name which it still bears and descended it observing the magnetic influence on the rocks on the summit which was so great that our pocket compasses were useless when laid on the ground and would only traverse when we mounted one of our number on the shoulders of two of his companions so as to get the bearings of different points on the horizon from thence we went to the cloven hills and to the countries subsequently occupied by the Mrs Manifold and returned eastward by the Pyrene Yallock having thereby convinced ourselves that the sheet of salt water was really an inland lake and that the appearance of a tide which had deceived our informant was nothing more than the action of high winds on its shore at the mouth of the Pyrene Yallock we came upon a large tribe of natives who seemed to be in the plunderers of Mr Ricketts station as they possessed some of the stolen property we came upon them so suddenly that they had time only to set fire to their miamias as a signal of danger to the other tribes we rode up to them but without firing or injuring any of them and encamped at a short distance off here we were in some danger and had to keep a strict watch all night for we saw by the smoke rising in different quarters the signal had been observed and answered and that the other tribes were on the alert after much shouting and answering one another in the forest around us during the night the savages decamped before daybreak and our danger was over near our encampment we found a fishing weir of the natives in which were small conical nets of good workmanship nearly a bushel of delicious little fish like white bait was in the nets part of which we talked and faithfully remunerated the owners by giving provisions in return to a couple of men whom we induced to approach us in the beginning of January 1838 we set out on another exploring excursion the party consisting of Mrs John Aitken A. Anderson W. C. Ewell my brother and myself for Mr Aitken's station we went to Mount Macedon at which Mr Ebbdon then resided and thence to the Coloban where Mr A. F. mollison had just taken up stations with stock from the middle district this was the farthest station at that time in that direction but within 12 months the Mrs Cog Hill, Captain Hepburn and others had pushed on farther for Mr mollison's station we passed by Mount Alexander followed the Lodden down over the localities lately rendered famous by the gold mines of Forest Creek and Bendigo and across the plains of the Deep Creek to the Mount Beckwick Ranges we're being in great distress from a lot of water we passed a most uncomfortable night under the highest point of them which we called Mount Misery a foolish name which it has unfortunately continued to bear ever since I may be allowed to pause for a moment here to remark on this mountain that it is one of the most conspicuous peaks in the country and that it is seen as a landmark perhaps further than any other single elevation in the colony being the culminating point from which rivers that flow into the basin of the Murray on the one side and into the sea to the west foot of Cape Otway and the other take their rise I cannot but regret therefore that it should continue to bear a foolish name in this moment if I may be pardoned the liberty of doing so I would suggest the proprietor of your Excellency bestowing a suitable name upon it before leaving your present government and further that name should be your own as a record of one who assumed the reigns of government when Port Phillip was the weakest of the British possessions and who is now about to leave it the fairest colony annexed to the British crown heading to the northern side of Lake Burrumbeat then covered with a few inches deep of intensely salt water the more tantalising to us as both ourselves and horses were suffering much from thirst one of our party Mr Anderson had already seen Burrumbeat on the occasion of the first excursion I have spoken of but he did not recognise it and we left it on our right returning home by way of Darling Forest the Bunan Yong Ranges and the Muralbool River at the head of which we found the newly formed stations of Mrs Cowian's stead and of Mr R Stiglitz immediately on our return from this exploring tour my brother and I removed our flocks from the Bahuan River where we originally settled and which we already found to be too confined and pitched our tent at our present homestead at Bunan Yong and in the course of the same year 1838 extended our runs to Burrumbeat and the Maiden Hills which we still occupy the same time February 1838 Mr Ewell occupied Ballarat which has lately proved to be so rich a goldfield and within a year the station of Mr Clark at Darling Forest was taken up and those of the Mrs Cog Hill Birch and Captain Hepburn and also of Mr Bowman on the northern side of the Maiden Hills which a latter was purchased by us in the following year in 1839 the Mrs Donald took up their runs and also Mrs Kirkland and Hamilton that now possessed by Mr Goldsmith the Mount Emu country was occupied by Mrs Bailey Wright and Montgomery and Mr Urquhart and in 1840 the country to the westward towards the Grampians was being rapidly filled up the remaining point on which your excellency this information is with regard to the Aborigines their number and their demeanour towards the first settlers the anxieties and labour connected with the forming of our sheep establishments were so great and urgent at the time of which I write that I never bestowed the attention requisite to form a correct estimate of the numbers or habits of the natives they never were numerous at Bunningong or in the neighbouring district though I remember hearing the gathering of them at Mount Emu which was estimated to amount to 500 but I think this statement will be much overrated I should consider myself to be nearly correct if I set down the whole Aboriginal population in the district around Bunningong at the time of its settlement taking a radius of 30 miles from the mountain as a centre at 300 souls now probably there are not 300 in looking at this rapid disappearance of the native tribes in our own district it is a pleasing subject of reflection that notwithstanding our having had a servant killed others attacked and sometimes our sheep destroyed we have never been brought into personal collision with them nor have we been instrumental in taking the life of a single individual and moreover I am free to confess that considering the wrong that has been done to the Aborigines and depriving them of their country they have shown less ferocity and have exhibited the desire to retaliate less than might have been expected I consider the disappearance of the native tribes in this district to be owing not the result of encounters with the Stockman and early settlers but to the visors introduced by the white men among them and to the change in their habits by which the act of exertion of the hunter's life was exchanged with the idleness and commonly the plenty they enjoyed in their new condition of beggars thereby inducing diseases and cataral affections to which they were not subject before for I believe that there is no shorter way of extirpating a race of savages like the Australian native than by supplying them freely with food and thereby taking from them the necessity for personal exertion if there are any other details which Your Excellency may desire and which it is my power to give I shall be happy to furnish them I am Your Excellency Subidian, servant Thomas Limmoth to His Excellency Charles J. La Trobe, Squire End of Letters from Victorian Pioneers Letter Number 11