Who was John Helder Wedge?
Surveyor and explorer, John Helder Wedge (1793-1872) was born in Shudy Camps, Cambridge. In 1824 he migrated to Van Diemen's Land with his brother and took up an appointment as Assistant Surveyor.
On 7 August 1835, Wedge crossed Bass Strait to the Port Phillip District to survey land that had recently been 'purchased' from the Aboriginal people by John Batman's Port Phillip Association. As surveyor, Wedge navigated the Port Phillip region by foot, taking notes and making sketches and maps. It was Wedge who, during the course of an exploratory journey, gave the Yarra River its name using an Aboriginal word he heard used in connection with it.
Wedge had a great interest in and respect for the Aboriginal people. He was particularly concerned that the settlement at Port Phillip would not repeat the tragedy that befell the Aboriginal people in Van Diemen's Land.
The founding of Melbourne
Melbourne was first visited by Europeans when two separate groups of enterprising Tasmanians travelled to the Port Phillip District in search of more pastoral land. Each group independently decided on the same place for the new village.
Batman and his party entered Port Phillip Bay on 29 May 1835, anchored near the heads, and journeyed through the countryside. On 6 June, Batman claimed to have purchased 600,000 acres of land from eight Aboriginal chiefs. The area of land encompassed the sites of both Melbourne and Geelong.
Two days later Batman's party rowed up the Yarra River, selecting the site for a new town. Batman then returned to Launceston to report to the Port Phillip Association, leaving some of his party behind with instructions to build a hut and establish a garden. At around the same time, an independent party from Tasmania lead by John Pascoe Fawkner landed at the site chosen by Batman on 29 August. Fawkner's party went ashore and proceeded to build the settlement's first home.
Wedge came across Fawkner's party when he was surveying the area. As the Port Phillip Association had not yet moved to the new site he quickly instigated the move. The two camps grew simultaneously - and often competitively - next to each other forming the nucleus of the new Melbourne. | 
