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CHRONOLOGY OF THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

Journal by itellya

This journal will take years to complete but here's a start.

BASS'S STRAITS.
This morning I needed to continue the grind of the CHRONOLOGY OF BURIALS AT DROMANA, by adding biography for Mary Ann Peatey's entry from PINE TREES AND BOX THORNS. But I wasn't up to starting while I sipped my first coffee of the day and I'd been thinking a chronology of the Mornington Peninsula would be a good project if I ever found the time. And I don't believe in rehashing what has already been written, by Leonard Wilding in 1907, countless articles in 1934 etc. Would you believe that the Yanks were sailing past the peninsula before the short-lived settlement at Sorrento was established or Port Phillip was even discovered? The 25-1-1802 entry resulted from a BASS'S STRAITS search on trove and I'll bet this information won't be found in any existing history.

25-1-1802.
The following is the Copy of a Letter from Capt. Eliphalet Smith, of the Brig Fanny, extracted from a New York Paper, dated at Sea, Jan. 25, 1802.

I am now on my passage from Port Jackson for Batavia, and am within a few days sail of that place; my route was thro' Bass's Straits which separate Vandieman's Land from New Holland. Mine is the first American ship that has ever made this passage and I flatter myself, from the observations I have made, that this passage (which has hitherto been considered impracticable by all seamen, owing principally to the Western winds prevalent in this lat.) will be rendered not only safe but expeditious, and of considerable advantage to the mercantile
world." (etc.)
(The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) Sunday 27 November 1803 p 2 Article)

15-2-1802.
THE DISCOVERY OF PORT PHILLIP.
The following interesting letter by Mr P. G. King, of Sydney, grandson of Governor King, relative to the discovery of Port Phillip, appears in the Argus of the 4th inst :—
( The very long letter contains incredible detail about early surveying of coast lines. Extract only. Lieutenant Grant, a friend of Captain Schanck who had designed the Lady Nelson with its sliding keel, had not noticed the entrance while bringing the vessel out or during his extensive survey. )

In January, 1801, Grant was followed through the straits by a small brig commanded by a Mr Black, who in passing
discovered and named King Island. After a short refit Grant proceeded to Western Port, accompanied by Ensign
Barreillier, and made an extensive examination and survey, returning to Sydney on 14th May. Here Grant left his
vessel, and went back to England, being succeeded in the command by his officer,Murray, now appointed as an acting lieutenant.

It was then that Murray was directed to carry out the instructions of Governor King, and he proceeded at once to Western Port, as the basis of his operations. On the 5th January, 1802, Murray sailed out of Western Port, and ran along the coast, passing Cape Schanck with a strong breeze "dead on shore," but he kept on for about 12 miles, when he saw an opening in the land that had the appearance of a harbour. For this he then bore up,knowing well the good qualities of his vessel, and that she would work out of the difficulty if he were disappointed
in finding an entrance into it.

With Mr Bowen at the masthead looking out, he stood on till within a mile and a half of the eastern rocky point, and boldly approached what must have shown itself as broken water, for Mr Bowen presently reported "Rocks ahead!" doubtless mistaking the now well-known " Rip" for shallow dangers. The line of breakers appeared to reach all the way, or nearly all the way, across the entrance, and Murray was obliged — though he could
perceive inside the troubled sea on the bar a fine sheet of smooth water of great extent — to haul to the wind, and though anxious to know more of this promising place, with the true instinct of a seaman in a gale on a lee shore, made good his offing, and with strong winds and in "tumultuous" and "confused sea" passed outwards beyond Cape Otway, till at length on the 11th he sought refuge and rest under King Island, anchoring in Elephant Bay.
Finding himself so far to windward, he examined Three Hummock Island, but the weather continuing bad, " worse than he had ever experienced since he sailed the seas," he regained a quiet anchorage in Western Port, waiting his opportunity to revisit the bar-bound harbour he had so reluctantly turned away from.

He now adopted the prudent course of making a preliminary examination of the entrance in a boat, and accordingly despatched Mr Bowen in the launch with 14 days' provisions ; but in a much less time Bowen returned with a favourable account of there being a good channel into the harbour.

On the morning of the 15th February,1802, the Lady Nelson at noon found herself off the bar, and Murray, with all sail set stood proudly on, the ship's way accelerated by a strong flood tide — the first flood tide which, in that narrow channel, had ever borne along with it a living freight. (P.2, Launceston Examiner, 9-10-1880.)

APRIL, 1802.
In April 1802, a French expedition ship Naturaliste under Jacques Hamelin explored the area, as part of the Baudin expedition to Australia. He named the island Ile des Français, since Anglicised as French Island.
(Wilipedia entry for French Island.)

With Port Phillip (originally dubbed Port King) having been discovered there was no way the French could be allowed to nose around there too, hence the Collins settlement at Sullivans Bay.

7 and 8-11-1803.
On Thursday arrived the Patterson, Capt.Ahern, from Providence, bound to China, and the Ocean, Capt. Mertho. from England, but last from Port Philip in Bass Straits, whither she conveyed a cargo of stores and provisions
for the Establishment of an intended Settlement under the Command of His Honor Lieut. Governor DAVID COLLINS, who had arrived in His Majesty's ship Calcutta, Capt. D. WOODRIFFE, having on board a Military Establishment, with 2 free Settlers, 209 Male Convicts, 15 Women and children: 8 Convicts died on the passage.

The Calcutta and Ocean sailed from England the 24th of last April, touched at TeneRIFFE,Rio Janeiro, and the Cape of Good Hope: The Ocean arrived at Port Phillip the 7th, and the Calcutta the 8th. ult. The Lieut. Governor having communicated to His EXCELLENCY the same unfavorable circumstances respecting Port Phillip not being
calculated for an extensive Settlement as was reported by the Surveyor General, Mr. Grimes,who with other assistance surveyed it in January last, but whose report had not reached England before the Calcutta sailed: Lieut. GovernorCollins has therefore suspended his proceedings until he receives directions from His Excellency
the Governor in Chief, which he has requested by Mr. Collins, a Passenger, under the sanction of Government, who very handsomely volunteered his services to bring the Lieut. Governor's Letters in an open six oar'd boat, which there is every reason to believe he would have accomplished with great credit to himself altho he encountered much bad weather and heavy gales in the Straits and on the Coast, but being so fortunate as to fall in with the Ocean off Point Upright, Capt. Mertho, who appears to have had no intention of touching here,very humanely took Mr. Collins and his people on board, and brought them to this Port.

The following are the Names and Numbers of the Civil and Military Establishment of the intended Settlement now arrived in the Calcutta and Ocean at Port Phillip, viz.
His Honor DAVID COLLINS, Esq. Lieut. Gov.
Rev. Rich. Hopwood, Chaplain
Benj. Barbauld, Dep. Judge Advocate
Wm. l'Anson, Surg.
Matt. Bowden, 1st. Assist. Surg.
Wm. Hopley, 2d do.
Leonard Fosbrook, Dep. Commissary
G. P. Harris. Dep. Surveyor
A. W. U. Humphreys, Mineralogist
T. Clark, Superintendent
W. Paterson, ditto
J. Ingles and W. Parish, Overseers.
PRESENT MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT DETACHMENT FROM THE ROYAL MARINES.
Lieut. Col. DAVID COLLINS, Captain Commandant, W. Sladder, and ----- Johnson, 1st Lieuts. ----- Lord, 2d Lieut.
58 Rank and File, including Non-commissioned Officers.

From the uncertainty of Capt. Mertho's putting in here, and the risque attending Mr.Collins's efforts to reach this Port in the open boat, Lieut. Gov. Collins and Capt. Woodriffe declined sending the Government dispatches,
or any private letter by this conveyance.

His Majesty's Armed Tender Lady Nelson which was loaded for Norfolk Island, was immediately cleared, and on the GOVERNOR'S return from Parramatta on Friday made the the Signal for Sailing, and is expected to leave this on Monday morning with the Ocean for Port Phillip, to enable Lieut. Gov. Collins to comply with His Excellency's Instructions. (P.1, The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 27-11-1803.)

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by itellya Profile | Research | Contact | Subscribe | Block this user
on 2016-07-22 19:10:01

Itellya is researching local history on the Mornington Peninsula and is willing to help family historians with information about the area between Somerville and Blairgowrie. He has extensive information about Henry Gomm of Somerville, Joseph Porta (Victoria's first bellows manufacturer) and Captain Adams of Rosebud.

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