Incorporation of the Town of Melbourne

On the 22nd October, 1841, the settlement of Melbourne was divided into four wards for the purpose of electing commissioners for the management of the Melbourne market established under the provisions of Act 3, Victoria No. 19 of the governor and Legislative Council...

Deaths by Drowning

The record of the Inquest for Mathew Hogan was found at the Victorian Public Records Office (VPRS 24, Unit 8, File 43/1851). It was conducted by the Coroner J. H. S. Wilmot and held at the Prince Albert Hotel. This Hotel, run by proprietors Jeremiah Slattery and John...

First Cab at Geelong Gained Notoriety

The day of the cab as a means of conveyance, at any rate so far as Geelong is concerned, arrived and has now practically passed within the space of 90 years. Judging by a reference in the “Geelong Advertiser” of 1848 to this class of vehicle, it...

Female Prisoners

George J. Armstrong, Governor of Pentridge from 1974-76, lecturer in Prison History, and co-author of “Pentonville to Pentridge” described the treatment of female prisoners in the 19th century. For the male administrators of the time, female...

John Batman And The Foundation Of Melbourne

9th of June 1835: “the boat went up the river to where it is very deep, 30ft – that will be the place for a village”. Rex Harcourt argues that it irrelevant whether John Batman was on board that day as it was recognised from Surveyor Grimes’...