Records of the Port Phillip Association

Identifier(s): MS 11230

Collection

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Scope and Content

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The Port Phillip Association was formed in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1835, by a group of individuals eager to establish a permanent settlement in the Port Phillip District. Their basic aim was to acquire land from the local Aboriginals.

The original members of the Association, led by John Batman, were: J.T. Gellibrand, C. Swanston, T. Bannister, J. Simpson, J. and W. Robertson, H. Arthur, J.H. Wedge, J. Sinclair, J.T. Collicott, A. Cottrell, W.G. Sams, M. Connolly and G. Mercer in Scotland.

The papers detail the business transactions, and day to day activities of the Port Phillip Association, both in Tasmania and the Port Phillip District. The papers also include correspondence concerned with Charles Swanston's purchase of land and sheep, and his dealings with the estate of Patrick Chiene.

The papers are arranged in nine major sections:

The letters of Michael Connolly to Charles Swanston; John Batman to Charles Swanston; Joseph Gellibrand to Charles Swanston; correspondence between George Mercer in Scotland and Association members; miscellaneous papers; correspondence dealing with the Chiene estate; Charles Swanston's purchase of sheep and land; and the financial transactions of the Association.

Within each section the papers have been arranged chronologically.

Dates

Creation: 1835-1837

Creator

Port Phillip Association. (Organization)

Conditions governing access

Item(s) at SAFE location: Restricted access to physical material.

Historical Information

The Port Phillip Association, led by John Batman, was formed in Hobart, Tasmania in 1835 by a group of individuals eager to establish a permanent settlement in the Port Phillip District. Their basic aim was to acquire land from the local Aboriginal people.

The Papers of the Port Phillip Association, consisting mainly of correspondence between Association members, 1835-1837. Also includes correspondence concerned with C. Swanston’s land and sheep purchases, and his dealings with the estate of Patrick Chiene, 1836-1842.

Full extent

17 cm. (1 box)

Language of materials

English

Additional description

Custodial history

These papers were purchased by the State Library Victoria at auction in November 1981. They had formerly been in the possession of the Tasmanian collector Sir William Crowther, who is understood to have acquired them from a source related to Charles Swanston. Many further documents in poor condition were, apparently destroyed.