September 3, 2025 • 13 mins
Dive into a fascinating collection of letters penned by the early pioneers of Victoria, addressing the Lieutenant-Governor Charles Joseph La Trobe in response to his circular dated July 29, 1853. These correspondences provide a glimpse into the early days of the colony, its interactions with the Aboriginal community, and the perspectives of those who shaped its history. While these letters offer valuable insights, they are not without their flaws; as noted in the preface, they cannot be deemed infallible records of our past. The series concludes with a unique compilation of Aboriginal words and phrases gathered by a dedicated woman, which, though their accuracy may be uncertain, stands as a testament to her commitment to preserving cultural heritage. Remember, the views expressed in these letters reflect the sentiments of the time and may not necessarily align with modern perspectives. (Annise)
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Section fifty two off Letters from Victorian Pioneers. This is
a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Letters from Victorian Pioneers. Letter fifty two from S. G. Henty, Portland, Portland,
(00:27):
sixteenth January eighteen fifty four. My dear sir, I have
allowed your circular of the twenty seventh July last to
remain much longer unanswered than I intended. But concluding that
the information you required at my hands would be insufficient
time if it reached you at any time previous to
(00:47):
your departure, I have put it off from time to time.
I am afraid at the expense of taxing your good
opinion of me. I fear you will not consider the
very short narrative here wish forward so full as you
expected at my hands. I am, however, such a very
indifferent handed description that I trust you will find what
(01:09):
I have written answer your purpose. Accompanying my narrative, I
beg to hand to you a copy of a statement
prepared by my brother William, when laying our claims for
compensation before the Home Government. I do not see that
it will interest you, but it bears out my account
of the early settlement of this part of the colony.
(01:31):
The difficulties and trials of early settling are perhaps better
known to myself and to other members of our family,
than to any other individual in the colony. I have
not touched upon any description of the country either at
Montgamier or Vennon and Glenell, simply because from your knowledge
(01:52):
of these parts you are so much more able to
do so than myself. I cannot, however, ever, forget that
pleasant rides that I have had the honor of accompanying
you on on several occasions over a great deal of
the above named country, and I trust I may live
to have an opportunity of doing so again in some
(02:14):
other part of the world, as it is my intention,
if spared, to visit the old country next year. And
I am now making my arrangements accordingly, as another magistrate
will be required here, and a friend of my own,
mister Learmont of Ettrick, near Portland, is about to join
me in carrying on my business here. I hope you
(02:36):
will not consider that I am taking too great a
liberty in asking you to put him in the Commission
of the Peace. As having been some years a magistrate
in one demon's land, he is in every way qualified
for such an appointment. And again in begging your kind
reconsideration of doctor Hallett's case, for I really consider him
(02:59):
very harshly used by the two individuals who sat with
me at the hearing of his case, both of whom
had prejudged the case before it came on for hearing.
But for my illness, my report would have been decidedly
in his favor, for the only point on which any
evidence was given directly rebuilded the charge made by mister
(03:21):
Malpass that doctor Hallett returned his own servant as government
office keeper. There was no evidence whatever to bear out
any other charge, but there is evidence now to prove
that mister Blair wished to the man to bear out
mister Malpa's statement. But for the death of the unfortunate lady,
the case would have been brought forward again. I am
(03:44):
sorry to trouble you upon such a subject at a
time when I am sure you must be very much worried.
But I feel it my duty to state to you
my opinion, and this case, Missus Henty unites with me
in very kind remembrances to you, and may I beg
you will convey the same to missus Latrobe, whom I
trust you will soon meet in perfect health. With every
(04:06):
good wish for such a speedy consummation and your future
welfare and happiness here and hereafter, believe me to remain
your sincere friend and admirer. S. G. Henty two, His
Excellency C. J. Latrobe, a Squire, et cetera. Eighteen thirty three,
the Henty family, residing in Launceston, one Demn's Land, being
(04:30):
interested in a whaling company whose operations were carried on
along the coast from Portland Bay to Port Fairriy. Edward Henty,
accompanied by my father, visited Portland Bay during this year,
and finding the country well grassed and apparently very well
adapted for grazing purposes, it was determined by the family,
(04:51):
upon their return to Launceston to send over stock and
other necessaries for an establishment at Portland Bay. Forthwith, and accordingly,
Edward Henty accompanied it as manager, and after a most
boisterous passage of four weeks, during which several of the
stock died, he reached Portland Bay eighteen thirty four, and
(05:14):
fixed his habitation on what is now Block number four
in the township of Portland, and now occupied by me.
My father at this time applied to the Home Government
for permission to exchange some portion of our large grant
of land at Smaan River for a smaller portion here,
which however, was refused, But what we considered a tested
(05:37):
permission was given for us to occupy and to claim
such lands as we might improve by fencing or cultivation.
Our subsequent operations bear out that we depended upon this concession.
The sequel, however, shows that we were mistaken. Eighteen thirty four.
In December of this year, my brother Frank joined the
(05:59):
party at Portland, bringing over more stock and servants. Eighteen
thirty five. Early in the following year, it was necessary
for f Hani to return to One Demon's Land. On
his return to Portland in October of this year, the
small sloop in which he was a passenger, called on
(06:19):
her way at Indented Head, where they found Batman's party
waiting an opportunity to get further up the Bay of
Port Philip. He took advantage of this opportunity and proceeded
with the party up the Yarriara, when the party camped
for the first time on the present town site of Melbourne.
After remaining there for a fortnight, he proceeded on his
(06:42):
voyage and reached Portland again in November eighteen thirty five.
At this time the writer was residing at Swan River,
to which colony he had emigrated from England as one
of the pioneers of that colony at its earliest settlement.
In October eighteen twenty nine, learning from my brothers at
(07:03):
Portland that they had taken up their location there, and
being urged by them to join them, I at once
determined on doing so, and in order to effect this
I purchased a vessel of sixty tons called the Sally Anne,
and embarked with my wife and servants, and reached Portland
in June eighteen thirty six. The vessel was afterwards employed
(07:26):
as a tender upon the party, running regularly between Portland
and Luceston. At this time we were entirely dependent upon ourselves,
both for supplies from Bandeman's Land and throw protection against
the natives and the many runaway prisoners who were at
large at and around the Wailing Establishment. Eighteen thirty six,
(07:50):
it was in August of this year that a portion
of Major Mitchell's party, headed by himself, visited our establishment, when,
to his astonishment, he found our party comfortably settled, having,
as he expressed himself, the only glass windows to our
house that he had seen since he left the boundary
of New South Wales. Not being aware of any settlement
(08:14):
at this place, he supposed that we were a party
of bush rangers or runaways from Bandeman's land, and in
approaching us, he took the precaution to have his men
ranged in order, with their arms ready for action. This
led us to suppose that his party was what he
supposed ours to be, and we were consequently as cautious
(08:36):
before holding any intercourse with him. From Major Mitchell, we
learned that the country about fifty miles north was much
more suitable for grazing purposes than where our stock was located,
and as our sheep had accumulated to several thousands, it
was considered advisable to push into the interior. To enable
(08:57):
us to do this, we cut a trackway through the
forest to Mount Eckersley, and there took up stations until
we could get further inland. Eighteen thirty seven. It was
not until the third of August in this year that
we succeeded in driving our first flock on to the
Merino down station, a day that will be memorable in
(09:20):
the recollection of the family of the writer as the
natal day of his firstborn son, Richmond. The remainder of
our stock was sent up as fast as possible, with
which we occupied the stations known as Montham, Connells Run
and Sanford. At this time we had a very great
difficulty in retaining the services of any men, owing to
(09:43):
the hostile disposition of the natives, to which many of
our men's lives were sacrificed. Eighteen thirty eight. In this year,
mister Samuel Winter came over from one Demon's Land, and
shortly afterwards took up a station called Tahara, a jointed
our Merino downs run. Shortly afterwards mister John Bryan came over,
(10:05):
and when it became known in Van Diemen's Land that
we had opened up a road into the interior, many
other gentlemen followed in our example eighteen forty. Among others
in eighteen forty were Messrs Pileau and Jones, MacCulloch, Pourbrick, Savage, A. G. Robertson, Coltham, Macpherson,
(10:27):
Ritchie and many others, until all the country immediately around
us was taken possession of. It was in October of
this year that the first land sale took place, and
which deprived us of some of that land upon which
we had made improvements at so much expense to ourselves,
some of it realizing at the rate of one thousand,
(10:49):
six hundred pounds an acre. The South Australian government held
out very great inducements for the selection of special surveys.
This induced me to take a journey across the boundary
of this colony in search of some suitable spot on
the coast within the Colony of South Australia. And for
(11:10):
this purpose I prepared a party of two men and myself.
I took my departure from Merino Downs in June eighteen
thirty nine, steering a direct course by compass for Mount Gambier,
which I reached on the second day. To those who
have not seen Mount Gambier, it may seem strange when
I say that I ascended it by a very gentle
(11:32):
slope on the northeast side, and was scarcely aware of
my exact position until I reached the brink of the
enormous Eastern Lake, a site which I never can forget,
quite beyond my power of description. At this time I
was not certain whether this beautiful country belonged to the
South Australian Colony, or I should at once have applied
(11:54):
for a special survey in that locality, For at this
time I believe no European had ever seen the country
but my own party. Under this doped I determined to
push further own and examine the coastline as far as
Cape Java, and therefore extended my search for twenty eight
days without success, and returned along the coast to Portland.
(12:19):
We afterwards formed kettle stations at Mount Gumbier, of which
were subsequently deprived by the chickenery of some unprincipled individuals
in search of ship stations. This part of the country
is now thickly settled. The export in wool alone from
the port of Portland this season will reached about twelve
(12:40):
southernd bales or in many value nearly three hundred thousand pounds,
and traffic consequent upon this is now very great. Port
Fairy was like Portland, but subsequently settled first by the
formation of a whaling party, and afterwards stock was introduced
from Van Dieman's Land by Messrs Connolly and Griffith, but
(13:03):
owing to the very great expense attending it, both these
gentlemen were ruined. The trade to Portland from Great Britain
is very considerable, no less than eight large vessels having
arrived direct within the last twelve months, fully laid in
this cargo, one of them the Aberdeen Clipper Francis Henty,
(13:24):
belonging to the writer, Besides some emigrant ships ranging from
one thousand, three hundred fifty tons down to six hundred
and fifty tons s. G. Henty, Portland, January fourteenth, eighteen
fifty four. End of Section fifty two
Section fifty two off Letters from Victorian Pioneers. This is
a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Letters from Victorian Pioneers. Letter fifty two from S. G. Henty, Portland, Portland,
(00:27):
sixteenth January eighteen fifty four. My dear sir, I have
allowed your circular of the twenty seventh July last to
remain much longer unanswered than I intended. But concluding that
the information you required at my hands would be insufficient
time if it reached you at any time previous to
(00:47):
your departure, I have put it off from time to time.
I am afraid at the expense of taxing your good
opinion of me. I fear you will not consider the
very short narrative here wish forward so full as you
expected at my hands. I am, however, such a very
indifferent handed description that I trust you will find what
(01:09):
I have written answer your purpose. Accompanying my narrative, I
beg to hand to you a copy of a statement
prepared by my brother William, when laying our claims for
compensation before the Home Government. I do not see that
it will interest you, but it bears out my account
of the early settlement of this part of the colony.
(01:31):
The difficulties and trials of early settling are perhaps better
known to myself and to other members of our family,
than to any other individual in the colony. I have
not touched upon any description of the country either at
Montgamier or Vennon and Glenell, simply because from your knowledge
(01:52):
of these parts you are so much more able to
do so than myself. I cannot, however, ever, forget that
pleasant rides that I have had the honor of accompanying
you on on several occasions over a great deal of
the above named country, and I trust I may live
to have an opportunity of doing so again in some
(02:14):
other part of the world, as it is my intention,
if spared, to visit the old country next year. And
I am now making my arrangements accordingly, as another magistrate
will be required here, and a friend of my own,
mister Learmont of Ettrick, near Portland, is about to join
me in carrying on my business here. I hope you
(02:36):
will not consider that I am taking too great a
liberty in asking you to put him in the Commission
of the Peace. As having been some years a magistrate
in one demon's land, he is in every way qualified
for such an appointment. And again in begging your kind
reconsideration of doctor Hallett's case, for I really consider him
(02:59):
very harshly used by the two individuals who sat with
me at the hearing of his case, both of whom
had prejudged the case before it came on for hearing.
But for my illness, my report would have been decidedly
in his favor, for the only point on which any
evidence was given directly rebuilded the charge made by mister
(03:21):
Malpass that doctor Hallett returned his own servant as government
office keeper. There was no evidence whatever to bear out
any other charge, but there is evidence now to prove
that mister Blair wished to the man to bear out
mister Malpa's statement. But for the death of the unfortunate lady,
the case would have been brought forward again. I am
(03:44):
sorry to trouble you upon such a subject at a
time when I am sure you must be very much worried.
But I feel it my duty to state to you
my opinion, and this case, Missus Henty unites with me
in very kind remembrances to you, and may I beg
you will convey the same to missus Latrobe, whom I
trust you will soon meet in perfect health. With every
(04:06):
good wish for such a speedy consummation and your future
welfare and happiness here and hereafter, believe me to remain
your sincere friend and admirer. S. G. Henty two, His
Excellency C. J. Latrobe, a Squire, et cetera. Eighteen thirty three,
the Henty family, residing in Launceston, one Demn's Land, being
(04:30):
interested in a whaling company whose operations were carried on
along the coast from Portland Bay to Port Fairriy. Edward Henty,
accompanied by my father, visited Portland Bay during this year,
and finding the country well grassed and apparently very well
adapted for grazing purposes, it was determined by the family,
(04:51):
upon their return to Launceston to send over stock and
other necessaries for an establishment at Portland Bay. Forthwith, and accordingly,
Edward Henty accompanied it as manager, and after a most
boisterous passage of four weeks, during which several of the
stock died, he reached Portland Bay eighteen thirty four, and
(05:14):
fixed his habitation on what is now Block number four
in the township of Portland, and now occupied by me.
My father at this time applied to the Home Government
for permission to exchange some portion of our large grant
of land at Smaan River for a smaller portion here,
which however, was refused, But what we considered a tested
(05:37):
permission was given for us to occupy and to claim
such lands as we might improve by fencing or cultivation.
Our subsequent operations bear out that we depended upon this concession.
The sequel, however, shows that we were mistaken. Eighteen thirty four.
In December of this year, my brother Frank joined the
(05:59):
party at Portland, bringing over more stock and servants. Eighteen
thirty five. Early in the following year, it was necessary
for f Hani to return to One Demon's Land. On
his return to Portland in October of this year, the
small sloop in which he was a passenger, called on
(06:19):
her way at Indented Head, where they found Batman's party
waiting an opportunity to get further up the Bay of
Port Philip. He took advantage of this opportunity and proceeded
with the party up the Yarriara, when the party camped
for the first time on the present town site of Melbourne.
After remaining there for a fortnight, he proceeded on his
(06:42):
voyage and reached Portland again in November eighteen thirty five.
At this time the writer was residing at Swan River,
to which colony he had emigrated from England as one
of the pioneers of that colony at its earliest settlement.
In October eighteen twenty nine, learning from my brothers at
(07:03):
Portland that they had taken up their location there, and
being urged by them to join them, I at once
determined on doing so, and in order to effect this
I purchased a vessel of sixty tons called the Sally Anne,
and embarked with my wife and servants, and reached Portland
in June eighteen thirty six. The vessel was afterwards employed
(07:26):
as a tender upon the party, running regularly between Portland
and Luceston. At this time we were entirely dependent upon ourselves,
both for supplies from Bandeman's Land and throw protection against
the natives and the many runaway prisoners who were at
large at and around the Wailing Establishment. Eighteen thirty six,
(07:50):
it was in August of this year that a portion
of Major Mitchell's party, headed by himself, visited our establishment, when,
to his astonishment, he found our party comfortably settled, having,
as he expressed himself, the only glass windows to our
house that he had seen since he left the boundary
of New South Wales. Not being aware of any settlement
(08:14):
at this place, he supposed that we were a party
of bush rangers or runaways from Bandeman's land, and in
approaching us, he took the precaution to have his men
ranged in order, with their arms ready for action. This
led us to suppose that his party was what he
supposed ours to be, and we were consequently as cautious
(08:36):
before holding any intercourse with him. From Major Mitchell, we
learned that the country about fifty miles north was much
more suitable for grazing purposes than where our stock was located,
and as our sheep had accumulated to several thousands, it
was considered advisable to push into the interior. To enable
(08:57):
us to do this, we cut a trackway through the
forest to Mount Eckersley, and there took up stations until
we could get further inland. Eighteen thirty seven. It was
not until the third of August in this year that
we succeeded in driving our first flock on to the
Merino down station, a day that will be memorable in
(09:20):
the recollection of the family of the writer as the
natal day of his firstborn son, Richmond. The remainder of
our stock was sent up as fast as possible, with
which we occupied the stations known as Montham, Connells Run
and Sanford. At this time we had a very great
difficulty in retaining the services of any men, owing to
(09:43):
the hostile disposition of the natives, to which many of
our men's lives were sacrificed. Eighteen thirty eight. In this year,
mister Samuel Winter came over from one Demon's Land, and
shortly afterwards took up a station called Tahara, a jointed
our Merino downs run. Shortly afterwards mister John Bryan came over,
(10:05):
and when it became known in Van Diemen's Land that
we had opened up a road into the interior, many
other gentlemen followed in our example eighteen forty. Among others
in eighteen forty were Messrs Pileau and Jones, MacCulloch, Pourbrick, Savage, A. G. Robertson, Coltham, Macpherson,
(10:27):
Ritchie and many others, until all the country immediately around
us was taken possession of. It was in October of
this year that the first land sale took place, and
which deprived us of some of that land upon which
we had made improvements at so much expense to ourselves,
some of it realizing at the rate of one thousand,
(10:49):
six hundred pounds an acre. The South Australian government held
out very great inducements for the selection of special surveys.
This induced me to take a journey across the boundary
of this colony in search of some suitable spot on
the coast within the Colony of South Australia. And for
(11:10):
this purpose I prepared a party of two men and myself.
I took my departure from Merino Downs in June eighteen
thirty nine, steering a direct course by compass for Mount Gambier,
which I reached on the second day. To those who
have not seen Mount Gambier, it may seem strange when
I say that I ascended it by a very gentle
(11:32):
slope on the northeast side, and was scarcely aware of
my exact position until I reached the brink of the
enormous Eastern Lake, a site which I never can forget,
quite beyond my power of description. At this time I
was not certain whether this beautiful country belonged to the
South Australian Colony, or I should at once have applied
(11:54):
for a special survey in that locality, For at this
time I believe no European had ever seen the country
but my own party. Under this doped I determined to
push further own and examine the coastline as far as
Cape Java, and therefore extended my search for twenty eight
days without success, and returned along the coast to Portland.
(12:19):
We afterwards formed kettle stations at Mount Gumbier, of which
were subsequently deprived by the chickenery of some unprincipled individuals
in search of ship stations. This part of the country
is now thickly settled. The export in wool alone from
the port of Portland this season will reached about twelve
(12:40):
southernd bales or in many value nearly three hundred thousand pounds,
and traffic consequent upon this is now very great. Port
Fairy was like Portland, but subsequently settled first by the
formation of a whaling party, and afterwards stock was introduced
from Van Dieman's Land by Messrs Connolly and Griffith, but
(13:03):
owing to the very great expense attending it, both these
gentlemen were ruined. The trade to Portland from Great Britain
is very considerable, no less than eight large vessels having
arrived direct within the last twelve months, fully laid in
this cargo, one of them the Aberdeen Clipper Francis Henty,
(13:24):
belonging to the writer, Besides some emigrant ships ranging from
one thousand, three hundred fifty tons down to six hundred
and fifty tons s. G. Henty, Portland, January fourteenth, eighteen
fifty four. End of Section fifty two
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