Introduction

The Place Now Called Victoria

Rural Victoria

Ned Kelly

A Jewel in the Crown

Marvellous Melbourne

Victorians at War

Victorian Stories

The Place Now Called Victoria

Victoria has many histories and has been known by many names. Geologically, this land is more than 400 million years old. Aboriginal people have lived here for at least 40,000 years, and the European history of this place covers a little more than 200 years. It is this last period that is explored in this exhibition.

Naming and mapping provide land with an identity. They also define territory and recognise forms of ownership. Victoria is a quite recent name, given in 1851 when the area was proclaimed a colony independent from New South Wales. This land had been previously mapped and named by Aboriginal people in recognition of nations, language groups and clans, indicating that Aboriginal land was managed under a complex system of sovereignty.



The British and French explorers who first visited the area gave names to places in order to claim ownership. For example, British navigator James Grant named Cape Schanck, the French then named it Cape Richelieu, while its Aboriginal name has been recorded as Tunnahan. Melbourne was previously known as Bareberp (Woiwurrung language), Narrm (Boonwurrung language), Bearbrass, Dutigalla and Glenelg before being named in 1837 by Governor Bourke after the then British Prime Minister Lord Melbourne.


Illustrations
Left: John Helder Wedge, Native women getting Tam Bourn roots, 27 August 1835
Right: N. Whittock, The City of Melbourne, Australia, 1855