European settlers found the settlement of Melbourne on the Yarra River
- When
- 1835–1837
- Where
- Port Phillip Bay; Merri Creek; North bank of Yarra River; Port Phillip District
- Episodes
- 4
European settlers established the Port Phillip settlement on the Yarra River in 1835. John Batman explored the area and negotiated a treaty, while John Pascoe Fawkner financed a party that arrived in August. The settlement became Melbourne, though official naming occurred later in 1837.
Episodes
- Batman's Exploration of Port Phillip
John Batman explored Port Phillip in May 1835, entering the bay on 29 May and landing at Indented Head.
- Treaty with Wurundjeri Elders
Batman negotiated a treaty with eight Wurundjeri elders on 6 June 1835, claiming land for the Port Phillip Association.
- Arrival of Fawkner's Party
Fawkner's party arrived on the Enterprize, entering the Yarra River on 15 August 1835 and disembarking on 30 August.
- Official Naming of Melbourne
Governor Richard Bourke named the settlement Melbourne on 10 April 1837, confirming the site chosen by Captain Lonsdale.
Background and detail
Background. The founding involved the Port Phillip Association, a Tasmanian business syndicate. John Batman explored Port Phillip in May 1835, entering the bay in late May. He negotiated a treaty with Wurundjeri elders in June, claiming land for the Association. This treaty was later annulled by the New South Wales government, but the Association received compensation.
Fawkner's Party. John Pascoe Fawkner financed a party of free settlers from Van Diemen's Land to sail to the mainland. The ship Enterprize entered the Yarra River on 15 August 1835. Settlers disembarked on 30 August to build a store and clear land. Fawkner himself arrived later in October 1835 on the second trip of the Enterprize.
Treaty and Naming. Batman's treaty with eight Wurundjeri elders in June 1835 purported to buy land around Melbourne. The settlement was established along the lower banks of the Yarra. Governor Richard Bourke named the town Melbourne in April 1837, after the British prime minister. Prior to this, the town had interim names including Batmania.
People involved
- John Batman · Explorer and Treaty Negotiator
- John Pascoe Fawkner · Financier of Settler Party
- Wurundjeri Elders · Treaty Signatories
- Richard Bourke · Governor
Sources
- History of Melbourne Wikipedia
- John Pascoe Fawkner Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-28
- Yarra River Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-09
- John Batman Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-18
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.