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About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at http : //books . google . com/ FIVE YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN AUSTRALIA FELIX, COMPRISING A SHORT ACCOUNT OF ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT AND ITS PRESENT POSITION, WITH MANY PARTICULARS INTERESTING TO INTENDING EMIGRANTS. BY G. H. HAYDON WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY HENBY HAINSSELIN, FROM SKETCHES MADE ON THE SPOT BY THE AUTHOR. LONDON: HAMILTON, ADAMS, & Co., PATERNOSTER ROW. EXETER; BY WILLIAM BALLE, 247, HIGH STREET. 1846. INTRODUCTION. MY object in writing the following pages, is to give the most recent and authentic information concerning the Province of AUSTRALIA FELIX. Having been a resident for some years in this fine portion of the British dominions, I have had opportunities of witnessing the great changes which have taken place in its affairs; during that period I have seen it sink for a season into a state of nearly universal bankruptcy—not from any dearth of natural resources—not from its inaptitude'for colonization—but rather from that headstrong spirit of speculation, which in all newly-formed communities is generally found to prevail. This was doubtless the main cause of the late unfortunate crisis; that it was not the only source of its depression the reader will perceive by perusing the following pages. It ought also to be remembered, that at the time affairs in Australia Felix assumed such a desponding aspect; all the Australian colonies were suffering in a nearly similar manner. I will merely allude to the state of the pet colony of South Australia, simply because this part of New Holland was settled about the same period as Australia Felix, the charter to the South Australian Company being granted in 1835. This colony, of which Adelaide is the capital, after receiving every aid that the powerful and universal agency A 4761^3 IV. of the British press could afford, supported by a wealthy landed proprietary in England, and cherished by legislative enactments, was declared to have been at the period to which I refer, in as bad, if not a worse state, than neglected Australia Felix. But those days of adversity are passed; both these colonies are in a much healthier state, and it is to be hoped the severe lesson of experience the colonists have learned may act beneficially on them in future. Numerous works have appeared on the subject of emigration to the Australian colonies, some evidently puffs, emanating from interested parties; others abounding in the most wild and dreamy imaginations, having to all appearance been written by persons, who evidently were never out of their own country. Writers of this description have been of the greatest injury to these colonies; deceiving the poor, but respectable emigrant, with the idea that he is proceeding to a land " flowing with milk and honey," but he finds on his arrival that an industrious and steady course of life are equally as necessary as in the mother country to gain a mere livelihood. The idea which he had been led to entertain of making a rapid fortune fades away before the realities of a colonial life. He becomes a disappointed man, and dwindles down into a lazy shepherd, spending all his wages in ardent spirits. This is the fate of many who on their arrival, had they not been puffed up with such foolish hopes, might have done well. I have in this volume, touched on few subjects which did not come immediately under my own observation, and therefore trust that the facts which I have adduced will be useful to those contemplating emigration, and amusing to others who are interested in our colonies, but who have no inclination to leave the solid comforts of an English home. CHAPTER I. THE province of Australia Felix, also known as Port Philip, is situated on the south-east coast of New South Wales, between the 141st and 146th degree of east longitude. It is bounded on the south by Bass's Straits, on the west by South Australia, the River Murray in the 36th degree of south latitude forms its northern limit, and the swampy river in the 141st degree of east longitude bounds it to the eastward. It occupies a space of thirty thousand square miles, or twenty millions of acres. The greatest extent from east to west, is two hundred and sixty miles ; from north to south, one hundred and sixty miles. It commands a navigable sea coast of five hundred miles, land abounds with harbours and roadsteads. For many years before Port Philip was settled, sealers and barkers from Van Diemen's Land had visited its shores and also the neighbouring harbour of Westernport. These wanderers returning with a favorable account of the country, induced a few enterprising colonists from that Island to make efforts for the formation of a settlement somewhere on the coast j their own lands being overstocked, did not afford sufficient nourishment for their fast-increasing flocks and herds. Its permanent occupation was effected by these A 2 c men, notwithstanding several efforts made by government to form settlements in this quarter had been unsuccessful. On the 12th of May, 1835, Mr. John Batman was dispatched to Port Philip as agent for an association, and succeeded in bartering with the natives for 600,000 acres of land in the neighbourhood of this port. The land was soon stocked with cattle and sheep, and the province was thus for the first time brought into general notice. Emigrants flocked here from all the neighbouring colonies, and the number of inhabitants increased so fast as to induce the governor of New South Wales, Sir Eichard Bourke, to write to the Colonial Office begging them to recognise its rich pastoral lands as a province dependent on New South Wales. This measure was taken, and Australia Felix has since remained in this unenviable position with the convict colony. Sir Richard Bourke in a visit he paid the infant settle­ ment, took active measures for the formation of a town near the splendid port. The result of his endeavours were very satisfactory. The site of the present town of Melbourne was fixed on and properly surveyed, and houses and huts soon covered the face of this part of the country. In 1837 the town had been foittied about fifteen months, and there were then one hundred houses. The increase since that period has been amazing. It is beautifully situated on hills close to the Yarra Yarra, a river which empties itself into Hobson's Bay, in the harbour of Port Philip, eight miles below the town. Vessels of one hundred and fifty to two hundred tons come up to the wharf at Melbourne. The town at present has much the appearance of a modern English one; the principal part of the houses and other buildings are constructed of brick, although there are several handsome stone edifices not 'by any means inferior 7 to those we meet with in our lesser English towns.