ATLAS OF AUSTRALIA—1886.
witli well known moteorological laws, tio elevated portio
colony eu]ojs, on the whole, a gi-eatei- rainfall than is found to obtain
CD the lower levels. The climate of the TahlelaiKl is braoii
noted for its iiivig-omtiug effects ou the human frame.
As the uorthorn slope from the Gi^eat Dividing CI
lost in the plains which extend to the Murray and the eastern bordi
of South Australia, dryness of the atmosphere commence.s to make
itself evident, and as distance from the ocean, w t h its sea-bn
vapour-laden clouds is increased, the withering effect on vegetation,
of an atmosphere almost devoid of humidity, shows itself all
around. It is, however, less marked in Victoria than in those pa
of the adjoining colonies situated at greater distances from the si
board. Tho Ileal of snmmar is somewhat greater, and the cold
winter rather more intense. These facts are in accordance with I
known laws of heat. The rainfall in this part of the colony is smt
long periods occurring in which there is little or none. In the northwest
part of what is known as the Mallee Country, on account of the
dense scrubs formed by a low species of Eumlijptiw, the rainfall,
some places, does not exceed 10 inches annually. Under such cc
ditions, settlement is attended with difficulty.
The following tables illiistratu the principal elements of climate
various stations on the Coast, Tableland, and Great Plains, for th,
Ku.,. yin, 1
;;; ÜDlboume
Wilson's Promontury
2rou
1,438-0
IM'O ss-a
Bñ-T
I n
Eegarded as a whole, tho climate of Victoria arkably healtl
when hot winds prevail. The cold of winter sometimes approache
sevei'ity on the Tableland, but, during autumn and spi-ing, there is i
genialness that can scarcely be surpassed for its beneficial effect-s oi
invalids and those of delicate constitution.
POPUIATION.-The fi.-st attempt to colonize Victoria proved nnsuccessful.
Early in the year 1803 an expedition was titted out in
England to foi-m a jjenal station at Port Phillip. This step was decided
upon on account of a feeling of insubordination which had
ansen among the convicts at Sydney. Two ships we.^ fitted out, and
307 convicts, 17 convicts' wives and 7 convicts' children, making in
all, with the necessary officers, 4C2 persons, were placed on board
The vessels arrived in Port Phillip in October, 1803. Tl.e commander
of the expedition, Colonel David Collins, selected a position
southern shore of the bay, about 4
This site was no doubt one of the
been chosen. Water was scarce,
required for building, could only b
14 miles distant. These and other
the penal station, in .January of tli.
ir 5 miles east from Point Nepea
most unsuitable that could have
nd of a bad quality, and timber,
• obtained nt Arthui^'s Seat, about
manses led to the abandonment of
following year.
t was made at Portland Pay, in
it from Launceston in Tasmania,
The first pennanent settlemei;
leS't, by Edward Henty, a merclmi
In 1835, Fawkner's party entered the T a r r a fari-a, and landing
on the site now occupied by Melbourne, commenced to build houses,
and cultivate the soil. Regular government was established the
following year under a resident magistrate from Sydney. The population,
in 1886, numbered 224, During the foll¿^^^ng decade it increased
to 38,384. As the agricultural and pastoral resources of this
part of Austral,a became better known, settlement gnvdually extended.
The gold discove
the s\icceedi
20 years t h
.t the close c
and h
per
of 1851 caused an increase in the popi.....,„„
over 70,000. The census of 1861 showed that
contained 541,800 inhabitants. During the
1881, the numbers advanced to 882,232.
niited population of Victoria was 001,270,
reached OIK million. The metropolis contains over 34
t. of the whole popnlatio
Agricultural pui-suits and the mining industry have operated to
distribute settlement over the land, and in connection -with the various
interests have arisen several centres of considerable importance.
Many of these, of comparatively recent date when compared with tho
cities of the Old World, are the sc^
.nd a pi-ominenl illn
ty generally associated with th
J table mil show the increase iu
during a period of 20 yeai-s.
L Peino
large amount of comons
of tho progress and
me of Australia. The
lore important towns of
LAND,—Numerous changes havo been made during the past, in
the laws relating to occupation and alienation of the public lauds
of Victoria. The subject is one which has arisen again and ai^ain
iment in the Colonial Legisk
3n of much of the progress
uestion which, perhaps, more than any other affects nearly
tely every member of the commwiity. lleuce, changes
small and trifling apparently, make themselves felt on some
t does the
sections of the people, either beneficially or prejudicially,
le time preN-ious to 1842, the minimum upset price of land in
the neighbourhood of Port Phillip was !2s. per acre. After that date
raised to £1 per acre. Land offered at auction sale, and not
bid for, was open to purchase at the upset price.
In 1800, a law came into force to regulate the sale of coimtty
ds. Surveyed portions were thrown open to selection at a uniform
rate of £1 per acre. In the case of two or more persons requiring the
lie block of laud, the matter was decided by an auction sale, limited
the applicants.
Conditional purchase was introduced in 1802, and large agricultural
areas were proclaimed open t« selection at £1 per acre. The
fixed at 040 acres. It was necessary to pay for one
half of the area selected at date of application, and the residue in
instalments of 2s. Od, per acre, extending over a period of 8 years,
»ere three conditions with ;vhich it was necessary to comply
12 mouths—I. Fencing the outside boundary of the land;
erection of a habitable dwelling; and 3. The cultivation of
th part of the area selected.
law of 180,'> provided for tho alienation of agricultural lands,
>y the payment of 2s. per aero per annum for three years, when if improvements
to the value of 20s, per acre had been effected within two
ind the selector had resided upon the land, he could purchase
per acre, or he could require it to be offered at auction at £1
e, with the value of his improvements added. I'his measure
ilso dealt with lands adjacent to gold-iiolds. It permitted, without
previous sui-vey, the occupation under license, of blocks containing 20
•es cach, the coudition being either residence, or fencing and culti-
;ion.
The law which came into force on the 1st February, 1870, extended
• principle of selection before survey, introduced in the 42nd clause
the Act of 1865, The ma.>dnium area was fixed at 320 acres, the
lection to be held under license during the first three years. The
ons were—1. Residence for two and a half years; 2. Fencing
itside boundaries; and 3. Cultivating one-tenth part, and
effecting improvements to the value of £1 per acre. The rent
nentioned was 2b. per acre annually, the
There
conditi
VICTORIA,
amount to be credited as part of the principal. Uuder
enactment it was also provided that sales by auction were not to
exceed in the aggregate 200,000 acres for one year.
An Amending Act came into opei-ation early iu 1879, which
tended the period of license from three to six years, increased
term of compulsory residence from two and a half years to five years,
and reduced the annual rental from 2s. to Is. per acre, thereby making
the deferred payments cover a period of 20 years Instead of 10 j
as foi-mevly. Provision was also made for selection without residence,
tho rent being 2s. per acre, and the total price to be paid, £2 ¡¡er i
Occupying an extent of about 11,500,000 acres, in the north-west
portion of the colony, is a vast tract covered with Euciilyptw dumoaa
and other scrubs, and known as the Malice Country. The law of 1888,
entitled the Mallee Pastoral Leases Act, dealt with this large extent
of country, comprising about one-fifth part of the whole of Victoria.
I t was divided into two portions, the north-western division, containing
about 10,000,000 acres, being known as the Mallee Country, and
the other occupying the territory around the southern and eastern
mai-giiis, and containing about 1,500,000 acres, being called the Mallee
Border, The Malloe Pastoral Leases Act provided for the subdinsion
of the country into blocks of various sizes; within the Mallee Border
the maximum was fixed at 20,000 acres. Leases for terms not exceeding
20 yeai-s, were granted under the conditions, that all vei-min,
such as native dogs and rabbits, should be destroyed witliin three
yeai-s, and that part of the block occupied should be surrendered to
the Crown at the end of five yeai-s. Alienation is not permitted in
this portion of the colony.
At the explication of the Act of 1869, and the Amending Act of
1878, on the 8l8t December, 1884, by effluxion of time, the Statute
of 1884 came into force. This measure dealt with all unalienated
Crown Lands except the Mallee Country, which was pi'ovided for by
the Act of 1883, The legislation of 1884 divided the whole of the
unalienated lands remaining in the possession of the Crown, as follows
:—I. Pastoral lands; 2. Agricultural and grazing lands; 8.
Auriferous lands; 4. Lands which may be sold by auction j 5. Swamp
lands; 0, State forests reserves; 7. Timber reserves; and 8. Water
reserves. The area in each of these classes is delineated by a distinguishing
colour or shading ou what are known as the Deposited
Maps,
Pastoral lands are obtained under lease only, for terms not exceeding
fourteen years after the passing of the Act, If more than one
person applies for the same block, it is offered at auction, and allotted
to the highest bidder. No sale is allowed of pastoral lands, except
to a lessee, who may select an area not exceeding 320 acres, as a
homestead, out of his lea."!ehold.
Agricultural and grazing lands are leased in ai-eas not exceeding
1,000 acres. No agricultural and grazing lands can be sold except to
the lessees of such lands, as provided. The area in such cases is
limited to 320 acres out of each leasehold block. Provision is also
; to allow a selector or lessee of an agricultural allotment
purchase nn area, not exceeding 20 acres, for the purpose
vineyard, hop-garden or orchard.
Licenses may be granted to occupy at
¡lortions of certain lands |irockinied as
20 acres in each case. Grazing licenses ar
lands, renewable annually, tor a period of
the area iu each case not to exceed 1,000 a
under the Land Act of 1884, are liable i
: fonni
•, fore- . year,
airiferous,
also issued for auriferous
not more than five years,
res. All lands alienated
> bo resumed for mining
purposes under tho provisions of the Mining Statute of 1805.
Lands to be sold by auction, are offered at an npset price of
£1 per acre, or nt such higher amount as tlie Goveruor in Council
may direct. The aggi-egate area to be alienated during one year is
limited to 100,000 acres. When lauds have been offered at auction
sale at an advanced rate, and remain unsold, the upset price may be
reduced, but in no case is it to be less thau £1 per acre. Provision is
also made in this part of the Act for the sale of lands surveyed as
townships.
Section 70 empowers the Goveraor in Council to allow the sale of
detached portions, not exceeding 10 acres in each ease, to the ownei-s
of the adjoining lauds, at valuations to be fixed by appi'aisers.
Swamp lands embrace the Condah, Koo-wee-rnp, Moe, Panyabyr,
and Mokoan Swamps, These are to be drained, and may then
be leased in areas not exceeding 100 acres, for a term of 21 years.
State forest«, timber, and water reserves ai'e not pennitted
to be alienated. Licenses to cut timber are granted in connection
with state forests and timber reserves.
Among the remaining mattei-s dealt with by this Act are, lea.ses
and licenses for other than ])astoral, grazing, or agricultural purposes,
commons, public parks, trespasses, penalties, travelling stock, and
unbrnnded cattle.
GOVERNMENT,—Tho laws of the colony are administered under
the members of the Government, the executive authority being
vested in the Governor and Council. The Legislature consists of
two branches, the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly.
The former is composed of 42 members, representing tho 14 provinces.
The Lower House has 80 members, returned by 55 electoral districts.
The elections arc decided by ballot. The suffrage in connection
"with the return of representatives to the Legislative Council is
limited on the basis of property, but that of voters for members of
the popular assembly is of the most liberal character. UnlesB a
dissolution is gi'anted by tho Governor, in accordance with the advice
of the Ministry for the time being, each Parliament lasts for a term
of three yeai-s.
Laws ai'e passed by both sections of tho Legislature, and come
into operation after the assent of the Governor. The supreme
authority rests in the Sovereign of the British Nation, but, unless in
matters affecting Imperial interests, or of an international character,
it is seldom exercised. In regard to laws relating to internal affairs,
the colony is practically self-governing. The Governor receives his
appointment from the Cro^vn, and acts with the advice of the
Executive Council. The Ministry is composed of 10 members; these
are known as the Chief Secretary, Treasurer, Attorney-General,
Minister of Railways and of Public Instruction, Minister of Trade
and Customs, Minister of Lands, Solicitor-General and Commissioner
of Public Works, Minister of Mines and Agriculture, Postmaster-
General, and Minister of Defence and Water Supply.
The administration of justice is carried into effect by tho Supreme
Court, Courts of General and Petty Sessions, County Courts, Lauds
and Mines Courts, and Courts of Insolvency.
PROOUCTS AND TRADE.—The history of Victoria is one which
illustrates very rapid progress in every branch of industry suited
to its climate and soil. During the early years
its existenci
when it formed part of New South Wales, and
nn outlying settlement, it was chiefly known in
squatting pursuits and the production of wool.
t pOSltK not 0 1 regi ird t
of agriculti
of considerable
and c.
ind pastoral products, but
aiporta
J relat
id the focus of rapidly extending trade
perhajis, t hat which more than
and trarle of this colony an
The discovery of gold, ii
anything else, gave to thi
impetus forward. There is
directed to Australia in gei
attracted by the glittering
turned their atte
manufacturing enterprise.
10 doubt, that attention was first forcibly
»ral through this fact. Afany who came,
xounts of the gold-fields, remained, and
agriculture, sheep-farming, commerce, or
In 1830 the export of wool amounted to 175,081 lbs., valued
at £11,030; at the end of 1831, the numbers were 10,345,468 lbs,,
representing a value of £734,618. Twenty years later, the oEficial
returns showed that the export of wool amounted to 76,334,480 lbs.,
worth £4,702,164, At the close of 1884, the expoi-ts reached a total
of 119,542,407 lbs., of the value of £6,342,887,
Similar increases in the production of wheat and other cereals,
now so largely grown in various parts of the colony, conld be
referred to.
The land under cultivation in 1851, represented an area of 57,472
acres; in 1884, the land cleared and placed under crops, had increased
to 2,323,493 acres. Such facts show clearly the rapid extension
of settlement throughout tho colony.
In the production of gold, Victoria stands prominently among the
countries where this metal has been obtained in large quantities.
There is no doubt that, viewed as a whole, it is one of the principal
gold-fields of the world. During 1851, the yield of gold amounted to
212,8990KS. ; in 1850, the quantity obtained reached a total of
8,063,7'Wozs. The returns for 1875, give the total as 1,008,417ozs.
Since that date, the quantities for the various years have become
somewhat reduced. During 1884, 778,ei8ozs. were raised from the
different mines. From 1851 to 1884 inclusive, the amount of gold
obtained in Victoria reached the euormons total of 58,023,985oz8., or
neariy 1,024 tons, representing a value of about £212,095,940.
Tho shipping which entered the Victorian ports during 1884, represented
a carrying capacity of 1,569,102 tons; the imports for the
same year were valued nt £19,201,033, whüe the exports are given as
worth £10,050,405.
At the close of 1884, 1,063 miles of railway were open for traffic.
Sevei-al trunk lines have been extended to the limits of the colony,
and the interior has been penetrated by others. 8,055 miles of telegra|)
h line wore open for use at the end of 1884.
The table on the following page will illustrate the general progress
of Victoria from 1836, to the close of 1884.