| 1838 The Derwent Banking Company opens an agency, the first banking facilities in Melbourne. Controlled by Charles Swanston, the bank supported the Port Phillip Association’s move into Port Phillip. |
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1839 First land sales of Geelong town land are held in Sydney. |
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| 1840 Charles Joseph La Trobe rides to Geelong and district, the first of over forty trips that he makes to Geelong and beyond. |
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| 1843 Post offices open at Kilmore and Ovens (later Wangaratta), the fifth and sixth to open in the Port Phillip District after Melbourne, Geelong, Portland and Alberton. |
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| 1845 Charles Joseph La Trobe sets out on horseback with two companions to explore South Gippsland. |
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| 1846 The Melbourne Botanic Gardens are founded on a site of 120 acres selected by La Trobe; the director commences from the beginning of March. |
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| 1847 Charles Joseph La Trobe returns to Melbourne from a four-month posting as Administrator of Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) |
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1849 Specimens of gold are discovered near Maldon and the Pyrenees. |
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1851 ‘Black Thursday’ bushfires break out on 6 February, when there is a reported shade temperature of 117 degrees (47 Celsius) in Melbourne – ten people die. |
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| 1853 Ferdinand Mueller is appointed Government Botanist and sets off on a four-month journey of botanical exploration to the Victorian Alps and Wilsons Promontory. |
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