Australian History
Book Details

Historical Records of Victoria

Beginnings of Permanent Government

Volume 1

Michael Cannon (ed.)

Describes how all aspects of the life of the Port Phillip District developed between 1836 and 1839.

Opinion

‘a boon to historians in making previously inaccessible documents readily available.’
Robert Wilson, Canberra Times

About this Title

The official history of Victoria begins with the institution at Port Phillip of an arm of the colonial government of New South Wales.

Early pioneering efforts had failed but later ones succeeded in establishing a pastoral industry from Van Diemen’s land. The developing settlement asked for government supervision—to prevent conflict between settlers and Aborigines and between settler and settler.

The achievement of stability and the institution of law and order as a basis for Victorian society rests on the foundations laid under Captain William Lonsdale as Police Magistrate.

Beginnings of Permanent Government describes how all aspects of the life of the Port Phillip District developed between 1836 and 1839. The papers, mainly from the holdings of the Public Record Office of Victoria, are arranged thematically to enable the pioneers to tell their own story through the records they created.

Table of Contents

Foreword; Acknowledgements; Imperial Measures; The Historical Setting; I. THE BEGINNINGS OF PERMANENT GOVERNMENT: 1. Claims of Port Phillip Association rejected; 2. Outrage against Aborigines: Police Magistrate Stewart’s visit; 3. Preparations for official settlement; 4. The voyage to Port Phillip; 5. Origins of the Victorian public service in 1836; 6. Lonsdale’s early reports to Sydney; 7. Governor Bourke’s visit to Port Phillip; 8. The Government Establishment in Port Phillip 1837–9; II. THE COMMISSARIAT OFFICE: 9. Food supplies for the first Government officers; 10. Tobacco rations; 11. Clothing for convict labourers; 12. Government stores required for Port Phillip, 1836–9; III. LAW AND ORDER: A. Police organization and operation: 13. Police appointments, resignations and conditions; 14. The first Melbourne Police Office and Magistrate’s Court; 15. Geelong Police Office and Magistrate’s Court; 16. Power of the Police; B. Development of Law Courts, and Beginnings of Crown Law Department: 17. Expansion of the Magistracy; 18. Court of Quarter Sessions begins; 19. Court of Requests delayed; 20. Croke’s appointment and Carrington’s resignation; C. Offences and allegations: 21. Deaths and inquests; 22. Melbourne assaults, riots and threats; 23. Assault cases involving J. P. Fawkner; 24. Geelong assaults, riots, threats and insolence; 25. Proceedings under the Masters and Servants Act—Melbourne; 26. Proceedings under the Masters and Servants Act—Geelong; 27. Theft cases—Melbourne; 28. Theft cases—Geelong; 29. Sheep killing and stealing by white men; 30. Bushrangers and murderers; 31. Miscellaneous cases—Melbourne; 32. Miscellaneous cases—Geelong; D. Prisons: 33. The first Melbourne gaols and watch house; Index

About the Author

Michael Cannon is the Founding Editor of Historical Records of Victoria and an experienced journalist, newspaper editor and historian. Among many books on history he is author of The Land Boomers.

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978-0-724-18247-3