In 1851 Victoria (Port Phillip District) separated from New South Wales. Apart from the early attempts at settlement, the only convicts sent directly to Victoria from Britain were about 1,750 convicts known as the 'Exiles'. They arrived between 1844 and 1849. They were also referred to as the 'Pentonvillians' because most of them came from Pentonville Probationary Prison in England. (Source: www.australia.gov.au)
Why Melbourne?
A growing price of land and stories told by whalers and sealers working in Bass Strait of fertile land to the north saw settlers move from Van Dieman's Land looking for sheep grazing land.
Click on the picture to the left and read about a brief history of how the colony of Melbourne began. Click on the below images to find more detailed information about early Victoria. |
Did you know that Melbourne was called Batmania for a period of time. Click on the 'Batmania' image to learn more about the people and events surrounding the establishing of Melbourne.
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In 19th century Melbourne free land was scarce, housing was a problem, and times were tough.
Click on the picture above to learn about the everyday life of the people of colonial Melbourne. Convict William Buckley escaped from the Sorrento settlement in 1803 and lived with the Wathaurung Indigenous people near Barwon Heads for the next 32 years until he met with John Batman's party in 1835.
Click on the picture to read more about William Buckley and the history of convicts in Victoria |
Skip forward to 17 mins to learn about how Aussie Rules began
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The British were worried about a possible French take over of the south coast of Australia. Click on the above picture for a brief summary of the Sorrento/Sullivan Bay and Western Port settlements.
Click on the pictures to the right to find more detailed information on both settlements. |
Victoria's Founders
John Batman and John Pascoe Fawkner were bitter rivals but are both credited with being early pioneers of Melbourne. Click on the images of each men below and you decide who has more claim to being the person who established Melbourne first.
The Henty Family contribution to early Victoria
The 'Golden' period of colonial Victoria
Skip forward to 24 mins to learn about one particular discovery of gold and it's importance in the colony's growth