| 1837 First overland mail leaves Sydney for Melbourne; it takes two weeks to arrive. |
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1837 William Buckley, who had lived with the Aboriginal people on the Bellarine Peninsula for thirty-two years, departs for Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) to start a new life. |
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| 1839 A major flood on Christmas Day washes away the beginnings of a dam across the Yarra River at the Falls, near present-day William Street. |
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| 1841 A post office opens at Portland, the third to open in the Port Phillip District after Melbourne and Geelong. |
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| 1845 Charles Joseph La Trobe selects the site for the Botanic Gardens on the south side of the Yarra River. |
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| 1845 Charles Joseph La Trobe sets out on his second attempt to reach Cape Otway to fix a site for a light house. |
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| 1851 Victoria seeks military reinforcements from New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land to deal with disorder on the goldfields. |
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1852 Charles Joseph La Trobe dispatches his resignation to England, after 14 years. |
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1853 Charles Joseph La Trobe turns the first sod of Yan Yean Reservoir. |
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| 1855 Foundation stones are laid for Parliament House. |
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| 1855 The Melbourne Gas Works are lit for the first time. |
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| 1857 The Yan Yean Reservoir is opened. |
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| 1875 Charles Joseph La Trobe dies at Litlington, near Eastbourne, Sussex, aged 74. |
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