Past

Melbourne: From Settlement to City

This class has passed
This class has passed

What’s it all about?

Prepare to head back to 1803 and 1835, where we will bring together the many strands of the story of our city. Who founded it? And when? And how? Have you heard of John Pascoe Fawkner, the Tall Ship Enterprize, John Batman or William Buckley? And what exactly does “the founder of a city” mean?

What will we cover?

You will meet colourful characters, administrators, convicts, settlers, sailors, aborigines, wheelers and dealers: all involved in the adventure, all struggling to survive in a new environment.

On August 30th 1835 a ship with 14 people on board arrived at the site of present day Melbourne, disembarked, and our city began. This particular subject is not without controversy among present day historians, which makes it more interesting. Our conclusions may depend, finally, upon our definition of a word….

Who will be teaching?

Edwina Lampitt has a BA University of Melbourne and is passionate about history and why it is important for us. A trained Librarian who has worked both here and overseas, she is now Archivist/Teacher/Historian on the Tall ship Enterprize, the replica of Melbourne’s founding ship. She also gives talks on Early Melbourne to U3A and other historical groups.