Explore rare images, manuscripts and artefacts connected to early Melbourne, drawn from the Cowen Gallery and The Changing face of Victoria exhibition to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Melbourne's founding in 2010.
Learn about the Henty family; Barak, leader of the Wurundjeri people; John Batman and the Port Phillip Association; William Buckley; John Pascoe Fawkner; George Evans; and the crew of the Enterprize.
Elizabeth Batman’s doll. Porcelain, leather and cotton.
John Batman showered his wife and children with gifts such as this doll, which belonged to his daughter Elizabeth.
Melbourne Deed, also known as the Batman Treaty, 1835.
Batman acquired land in the Melbourne area from the local Aboriginal people in exchange for blankets, tomahawks, knives, scissors, looking glasses, handkerchiefs, flour and shirts. Possum skin cloaks, baskets and weapons were presented to Batman in return, so the exchange may have been viewed as a form of tanderrum, a ceremony that provides a visitor with temporary access to and use of land.
The Hon Edward Henty Esq MLC, albumen silver cabinet photo by Batchelder & Co, c 1870.
Edward Henty (1809–78) and his brothers have been credited with establishing Victoria's first permanent white settlement, at Portland Bay. A whaling depot had been set up at Portland by 1828, but it was Henty who arrived in 1834 to occupy land and commence farming sheep. His brothers had joined him by 1837.
Melbourne from the south bank of the Yarra, 1840, Eleanor (Nellie) McGlinn, c 1875, oil on canvas.
This work, based on a sketch made by George Henry Haydon in 1840, shows Melbourne from the south bank of the Yarra, looking across from the turning basin. The distinctive roof line of John Pascoe Fawkner’s hotel can be seen on the hill at the corner of Collins and Market.
Melbourne 1836, Reinhold Hofmann.
This early view of Melbourne, looking north from an elevated perspective, shows the buildings and dwellings close to the river, including the residences of both John Batman and Captain William Lonsdale, and the tent of surveyor WW Darke. The Library also holds a larger version of this painting that includes a legend identifying the buildings and other features depicted. Both versions are executed in a naive style.
The first settlers discover Buckley, Frederick William Woodhouse, 1861, oil on canvas.
William Buckley escaped from custody at Sorrento in 1803 and lived for 30 years with the Aboriginal people of the Bellarine Peninsula. This painting depicts the moment when, on 6 July 1835, Buckley walked into the base camp established by John Batman at Indented Head.
Founding of Melbourne: landing from the Yarra Basin August 29th 1835, unknown artist, c 1885, watercolour.
This painting, created later, illustrates the landing of George Evans and the crew of the Enterprize on the banks of the Yarra in 1835.
View of Portland Bay (detail), George William Jackson, 1836, watercolour.
George Evans, Robert Hawker Dowling, c 1854, oil on canvas.
George Evans and his party founded the settlement that became Melbourne on 29 August 1835, after travelling on the ship Enterprize from Launceston to Port Phillip. John Pascoe Fawkner was supposed to be on the ship, too, but was prevented from leaving at the last minute.
Plan of the Port Phillip District, John Helder Wedge, 1835, manuscript.
On 7 August 1835, the surveyor John Helder Wedge arrived at Indented Head on the Bellarine Peninsula where Batman’s party was camped. This map, drawn shortly afterwards, shows the land supposedly ceded to Batman by the Aboriginal people that he met with.
The Port Phillip Patriot Office and the Melbourne Club, Wilbraham Frederick Evelyn Liardet, 1875, watercolour with pen, ink and pencil.
In November 1837, John Fawkner paid £10 for a half-acre site on the corner of Collins and Market. The Port Phillip Patriot Office was the first building erected on the site, followed by a hotel in 1838, which was soon leased to the Melbourne Club for £250 per annum.
Barak – last chief of the Yarra Yarra tribe of Aborigines, Florence Ada Fuller, 1885, oil on board.
Barak, leader of the Wurundjeri people and an artist, was born near Healesville around 1820. He was present at the meeting between Aboriginal leaders and John Batman’s party in June 1835. Barak became an advocate and leader in the wider Aboriginal community.
