Papers of George Mercer

Identifier(s): MS 13166

Collection

Scope and Content

The papers of George Mercer are arranged in four major sections:

1. The collection consists of letters to George Mercer, 1819-1849, from his sons in Australia, also Charles Swanston, John Helder Wedge and others associated with the Port Phillip Association and Mercer’s pastoral interests in Australia.

2. The collections includes a copy of Batman’s treaty 1835, a plan of Melbourne with the allotments as sold by Public Auction 1 June 1837, and a plan of Melbourne allotments for sale in the Government gazette 1838.

3. Eighteenth century letters to William Mercer including some from India'

4. Some miscellaneous letters to George Mercer with no Australian content.

Within each section the papers have been arranged chronologically.

Dates

1772-1853

Creator

Mercer, George, 1772-1853 (Person)

Restrictions

Available for reference.

Biographical Information

George Mercer (1772-1853), a member of a wealthy Scottish family, had a commission in the East India Company’s marines and then became a merchant in Calcutta. There he had connections with Charles Swanston and Thomas Learmonth who later settled in Australia. He established himself as a merchant in Edinburgh and, in 1833, on Swanston’s advice, invested in property in Van Diemen’s Land. He was a partner in the Port Phillip Association and chief shareholder in the Derwent Company. He never came to Australia but acted as advocate in Britain for the Port Phillip Association. His sons George Duncan Mercer and John Henry Mercer, and nephew William Drummond Mercer all spent some years in Port Phillip pursuing pastoral interests.