| 1836 Major Thomas Mitchell explores overland from Sydney and discovers Edward and Francis Henty already settled at Portland. |
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1838 The Bank of Australasia, a forerunner of the ANZ Bank, establishes Melbourne’s first permanent bank branch in Little Collins Street. |
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| 1839 Charles Joseph La Trobe spends time in Sydney with Governor Gipps, learning the conduct of government business before travelling on to Melbourne, which takes two weeks by boat. |
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| 1842 A massive flood washes away the partly-completed dam across the Yarra River at the Falls, near present-day William Street. |
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| 1845 The Cataraqui is wrecked off the southwest of King Island with the loss of 400 lives. |
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| 1846 Sir Charles FitzRoy becomes Governor of New South Wales, encompassing the Port Phillip District. |
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1848 The Cape Otway lighthouse is lit for the first time. |
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| 1849 Charles Joseph La Trobe refuses to allow prisoners from the convict ship Randolph to land in Hobson’s Bay – they are eventually delivered to Moreton Bay (Queensland). |
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| 1851 Gold is discovered at Clunes and Buninyong. |
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| 1851 A gold licence fee of 30 shillings a month is imposed on miners. |
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| 1857 Gas lamps replace oil lamps in the city of Melbourne. |
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