Settlement in Melbourne

Melbourne was established in 1835, during the rule of King William IV. Settlement in Melbourne was mainly initiated by people of Tasmania. People from Tasmania came to this part of Australia, mainly seeking pastoral lands. John Batman from Tasmania came to this city to settle in the Port Phillip in the year 1835.

John Pascoe Fawkner also took the initiative to start settlement in Melbourne. In 1835, Fawkner and his men sailed to Yarra River on 29th August. Later in the month of October, he permanently settled here. The settlement in Melbourne was actually the initiatives of foreigners. Unlike other cities in Australia, official initiative was not taken to start a settlement in Melbourne.

On 26th August of 1835, a proclamation was issued by Sir Richard Bourke, the then Governor of New South Wales. The proclamation declared that from then onwards, all the aboriginals would be considered as trespassers and treaties with them would be dealt with that perspective. However, the new settlement of Melbourne lacked the essential requirements of a proper town. In 1836, Bourke made a report on the settlement in Melbourne. By then the population consisted of only 35 females and 142 males.

The settlement in Melbourne was initially named as Glenelg. But Governor Bourke renamed the settlement as Melbourne. The name was kept as Melbourne to honor Great Britain's Prime Minister.