Melbourne

Melbourne

Map of Melbourne

How Melbourne got its nameJohn Delaney from Derbyshire, England explains the link between Victoria’s great city and a small town in the English Midlands.

In 1837 a small settlement on the banks of the Yarra River in Australia needed a name. Queen Victoria, after whom the State of Victoria is named, decided that it would be named Melbourne. This was as an honour for the 2nd Viscount Melbourne, British Prime Minister and the political mentor to the young Queen.

Lord Melbourne’s family name was Lamb and he took his title from the small town of Melbourne in Derbyshire where he lived at the family home of Melbourne Hall. His wife Lady Caroline Lamb became famous because of her love affair with the poet Byron.

Melbourne Hall was built in 1628 and is today owned by the Kerr family.

Melbourne, Derbyshire is still a thriving small town with a population of 6500 and a number of historical claims to fame. These include being the birthplace of Thomas Cook, founder of the world wide travel agency.

There have been cordial relations between Melbourne, Derbyshire and Melbourne, Victoria over the years with a number of visitors to Melbourne, Derbyshire from its famous antipodeans’ namesake.

operating from Sydney. Bass Strait, the passage between the Australian mainland and Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), was discovered by George Bass in 1797, who sailed as far west as

Western Port. Other navigators included James Grant in 1800. In 1802 John Murray in the Lady Nelson was the first to sail into Port Phillip, but he did not reach the northern end of the bay.

He was followed shortly after by Matthew Flinders. In January 1803, Charles Robbins and Charles Grimes in the schooner Cumberoperating from Sydney. Bass Strait, the passage

between the Australian mainland and Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), was discovered by George Bass in 1797, who sailed as far west as Western Port. Other navigators included James Grant in 1800. In 1802 John Murray in the Lady Nelson was the first to sail into Port Phillip, but

he did not reach the northern end of the bay. He was followed shortly after by Matthew Flinders. In January 1803, Charles Robbins and Charles Grimes in the schooner Cumberland

explored the whole of the bay, and found the mouth of the Yarra River, on which they rowed as far as Dights Falls at Collingwood.[1] In October 1803 a convict settlement was established

at Sullivan Bay at the mouth of Port Phillip, but this was abandoned and relocated to Van Diemens Land in January 1804.

The Hume and Hovell expedition passed just to the north of what is now Melbourne in December 1824, before reaching Port Phillip at Corio Bay. Other than the escape of convict

William Buckley, it is the only recorded visit by Europeans between 1804 and 1835.

land explored the whole of the bay, and found the mouth of the Yarra River, on which they rowed as far as Dights Falls at Collingwood.[1] In October 1803 a convict settlement was

operating from Sydney. Bass Strait, the passage between the Australian mainland and Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), was discovered by George Bass in 1797, who sailed as far west as

Western Port. Other navigators included James Grant in 1800. In 1802 John Murray in the Lady Nelson was the first to sail into Port Phillip, but he did not reach the northern end of the bay.

He was followed shortly after by Matthew Flinders. In January 1803, Charles Robbins and Charles Grimes in the schooner Cumberland explored the whole of the bay, and found the mouth of the Yarra River, on which they rowed as far as Digits Falls at Collingwood.[1] In

October 1803 a convict settlement was established at Sullivan Bay at the mouth of Port Phillip, but this was abandoned and relocated to Van Diemen's Land in January 1804.

The Hume and Hovel expedition passed just to the north of what is now Melbourne in December 1824, before reaching Port Phillip at Corio Bay. Other than the escape of convict

William Buckley, it is the only recorded visit by Europeans between 1804 and 1835.

established at Sullivan Bay at the mouth of Port Phillip, but this was abandoned and relocated to Van Diemen Land in January 1804.

The Hume and Hovel expedition passed just to the north of what is now Melbourne in December 1824, before reaching Port Phillip at Corio Bay. Other than the escape of convict

William Buckley, it is the only recorded visit by Europeans between 1804 and 1835.

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