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Superintendent. They presented him with 325 pounds for an inscribed silver service. Lonsdale continued to act as Police
Magistrate until appointed as Sub-Treasurer of the district on a salary of 400 pounds in April 1840. His relations with Latrobe and the new Governor, Sir George Gipps, were always good. When local government was introduced to Melbourne Captain William Lonsdale was appointed the interim acting mayor until elections were held. When La Trobe was appointed acting as Lieut-Governor of Van Dieman's Land Captain
339:. Lonsdale supervised the first land sale in June 1837. and as there were no Banks in the Port Phillip settlement of Melbourne, he personally used his own funds in a Sydney bank to pay the government what was due to them. In this way he allowed purchasers to retain cash in the settlement which would have been otherwise left without any 'money in hand' needed for their further development of the settlement. Lonsdale, if it was within his power was there to make it happen, and at the same time uphold the law.
264:, just arrived in Port Jackson, to transport Captain William Lonsdale, his family and public officers to Port Phillip. It was important that a warship of the Imperial Navy be present to reinforce the Governor's power, now delegated to Lonsdale as General Agent of Government. Lonsdale had to establish a new remote settlement that was only accessible by sea, as no overland route existed from Sydney to Port Phillip, as southern New South Wales was a vast forest with large rivers, yet to be explored.
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member of that group. This "Confidential Report" appeared necessary to ensure no one of significance gained too much prior advantage in any land development at this Port
Phillip outpost. It also indicated that Captain William Lonsdale was held in high esteem by Governor Sir Richard Bourke who had personally chosen him to manage this Port Phillip settlement foundation.
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Government in certain cases and therefore direct them to instruct their officers proceeding to Port
Phillip to attend to such orders as they shall receive from Captain Lonsdale which will be their sufficient warrant and to apply to him for advice and assistance in any case of doubt or difficulty or when anything is required by them out of the usual course of service.
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Lonsdale's last public office was
Colonial Treasurer on a salary of 1500 pounds from July 1853 until July 1854 when he followed LaTrobe's example and retired and returned to England. In England the Lonsdale's had two more children - Maude Smythe b:1858 and Oswald b:1860. William died in London on 28
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arrived in
Melbourne in October 1839 as Port Phillip's first Superindendant and he relieved Captain William Lonsdale of his General Agent of Government duties. The people of Melbourne marked the occasion by giving William Lonsdale an Address and financial gifts, from the settlers, including the new
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Lonsdale's salary was 300 pounds
Sterling, 50 pounds being deducted whilst he drew half pay from his Regiment as Commandant of a Company of the King's Own 4th at Port Phillip. He received a 100-pound outfitting allowance for this new appointment. The Governor, with his authority over the Royal Navy
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He also had instructions from the
Governor to submit direct to the Governor "Confidential Reports" on the developments at Port Phillip. It appears that the Governor was engaged in a power struggle with Sydney's Colonial bureaucracy, labelled the "Exclusives", his Colonial Secretary McLeay being a
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for Port
Phillip. This speed reflected Bourke's concerns about the 200 illegal settlers at Port Phillip, who were claiming land and negotiating with the aboriginal natives for other areas. He needed to act quickly, and to the overall credit of the Sydney public service, they arranged it all in
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when, having reported the matter to London, he received
Imperial authority to establish a settlement. He immediately appointed Captain William Lonsdale as Chief Agent of Government, Police Magistrate and Commandant for the Port Phillip region. Lonsdale's Chief Agent duties were authorised in
215:
With reference to part of
Captain Lonsdale's instructions inform the Collector of Customs and Surveyor-General that owing to the distance of Port Phillip from Sydney and the difficulty of frequent communication, it has been thought proper to give the Police Magistrate authority to act for the
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During the period 1836 to 1854 the Lonsdale family increased in number (two dying in infancy) - Liona Kingsown b:1838, Edgar b:1839, Ellen Peveril b:1842 d:1842, William b:1843, Ralph Peveril b:1847 d:1852, Ethilda Wagstaffe b:1845, Rupert Latrobe b:1849.
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s crew and Marines, finally making landfall on the north bank of the river. A rock bar existed across the river at this point, the river pouring through a fissure in the rock. This location is where the present historic Customs House is now located.
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until the prefabricated house, sent from Sydney for the Ensign, was erected on shore. Lonsdale chose this first government building for his, and his family's use until his own prefabricated house arrived in the next few months.
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Captain William Lonsdale immediately landed unofficially, distributing the official proclamation of the establishment of the new settlement and followed this up with a second informal visit the following day.
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entire confidence in his intelligence and discretion by giving him the General Superintendence of the new settlement over all matters that should require the immediate exercise of Government authority on the
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When Governor Bourke visited Port Phillip in March 1837 he praised Lonsdale's ability, zeal and discretion, confirmed Lonsdale's choice of a site for the new town and named it Melbourne. Lonsdale chose the
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and on 2 January 1836 was gazetted as a Magistrate of the Territory and also as Assistant Police Magistrate. William and Martha's first child, Alice Mary, was born at Parramatta on 20 February 1836.
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Besides Lonsdale's duties for the immediate exercise of authority of the government, and his Confidential Reports to the Governor, he was to take a census, noting land occupation and aboriginals.
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conciliate them by kind treatment and presents, protect them from any manner of wrong, maintain friendly relations with them and improve by all practical means their moral and social conditions.
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Three surveyors, two customs clerks, a commissariat clerk, Ensign King, thirty privates and thirty convicts arrived during October, on board the two hired transports, Stirlingshire and Martha.
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They first anchored at the south end of the bay on 27 September 1836, where Hobson despatched a cutter for survey work, and by 29th had proceeded north and anchored off Point Gellibrand,
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if they became violent they were to be restrained by the gentlest means, but they (the natives) must try to understand that white or black, all came under the Laws of England
350:, and local entrepreneurs who resented his General Agent of Government powers, but they had to follow the Governor's orders, Lonsdale was adamant. He was highly respected.
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site lacked. The foundations of the new settlement having been laid Lonsdale conscientiously followed instructions, referring all decisions he made to his superiors in
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Only twenty-one days had elapsed from the time Governor Bourke received Imperial authority to establish the settlement to the time Lonsdale sailed in HMS
161:. He returned to England and was posted to Portugal. By 1830 he was back in England and by 20 March 1831 his Regiment was posted to the Colony of
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became a separate colony, Lonsdale was appointed its first colonial secretary on a salary of 900 pounds. He served in the
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on 8 July 1819. He was soon joined by his younger brother, Alured. William and Alured served with their Regiment in the
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and Dr Thompson and other assembled illegal settlers, all anxious to have their land claims and investments validated.
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Lonsdale finally arrived at Port Phillip with his wife Martha, daughter Alice and his one assigned servant, on board
130:
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On 1 October 1836 Captain Hobson had Lonsdale, in full King's Own uniform, formally rowed up the Yarra River by the
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During the next two years of his administration, friction developed between Lonsdale and the government surveyors,
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This effectively gave William Lonsdale authority that made him an unofficial "Superintendent". Colonial secretary
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to relieve the 39th Regiment. He was to become a colonial administrator as well as his profession as a soldier.
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followed this instruction with a written appointment for Lonsdale stating that the Governor had placed his
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183:. During the next five years he served in the colony of New South Wales, his brother Alured serving in
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His instructions also contained specific reference to the Aboriginal natives in which he was to
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105:(2 or 21 October 1799 – 28 March 1864) supervised the founding of the official settlement at
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137:. His father, Lieutenant James Lonsdale, had been accompanied by his wife Jane (
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The Life and Times of Captain William Lonsdale "Nieuwe Dieper" 1794 - 1864
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on 14 December 1831 with a detachment of troops guarding convicts on the
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The increasing problem of illegal settlements at the remote location of
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from 31 October 1851 to 1853, the turbulent years of the gold rushes.
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three weeks, but then the Governor was determined to make it happen.
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before joining him in New South Wales in 1833. Whilst stationed at
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March 1864 and was survived by his widow, 4 sons and 4 daughters.
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Faunce). William at age 20 joined his father's old regiment, the
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was appointed Acting Superintendent during La Trobe's absence.
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196:
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68:
606:
722:
E. Scott, ‘Capt Lonsdale and the Foundation of Melbourne’,
113:) from 1836 and went on to serve under the Superintendent
491:"The Port Phillip Magistrates, 1835–1851 (Ph.D. thesis)"
488:
279:, commanded by Hobson (later Governor of New Zealand).
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site for its access to abundant fresh water, which the
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written instructions from Governor Sir Richard Bourke:
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on the south coast of New South Wales was resolved by
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Re-Member: a database of all Victorian MPs since 1851
386:is named in his honour and his portrait is in the
729:E. Scott, ‘The Administration of Capt Lonsdale’,
1112:
584:. Whitcombe & Tombs Limited. p. 165.
581:Constitutional Development of Victoria, 1851-6
760:
1141:Members of the Victorian Legislative Council
290:. The survey cutter would join them later.
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767:
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563:. London: Hutchinson & Co – via
531:. Sydney, NSW. 6 September 1836. p. 2
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428:. Canberra: National Centre of Biography,
31:
305:Here Captain William Lonsdale was met by
153:and on 4 March 1824 William was promoted
577:
561:The Dictionary of Australasian Biography
195:Smythe on 4 April 1835. He returned to
1161:19th-century Australian public servants
549:
469:
312:Captain Lonsdale remained on Board HMS
1113:
129:, Batavian Republic, during Britain's
748:
413:
411:
168:
143:King's Own (4th) Regiment of the Foot
1156:19th-century Australian politicians
702:A History of the Colony of Victoria
682:Additional resources listed by the
384:Melbourne central business district
13:
716:New South Wales Government Gazette
685:Australian Dictionary of Biography
617:Dictionary of Australian Biography
425:Australian Dictionary of Biography
408:
14:
1177:
697:, Series I, vols 18, 20, 22–3, 25
588:from the original on 8 April 2016
556:"Lonsdale, Captain William"
503:from the original on 7 April 2015
417:
1166:Colony of New South Wales people
388:State Library of New South Wales
96:4 sons and 4 daughters
741:(London), 31 Mar 1864; CO 309/1
694:Historical Records of Australia
420:"Lonsdale, William (1799–1864)"
1126:Public servants from Melbourne
635:
600:
571:
543:
489:James Theodore Ivan Rangelov.
430:Australian National University
241:There was added comment that "
1:
1055:Victorian Legislative Council
731:Victorian Historical Magazine
724:Victorian Historical Magazine
401:
370:Victorian Legislative Council
120:
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7:
709:First Years at Port Phillip
208:Governor Sir Richard Bourke
10:
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253:in the region, instructed
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704:, vols 1-2 (London, 1904)
578:Sweetman, Edward (1920).
523:"IMPORTANT.—PORT PHILLIP"
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84:
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57:
39:
30:
23:
286:, near the mouth of the
135:Prince William of Orange
80:Colonist, public servant
354:Charles Joseph La Trobe
133:to restore the deposed
1151:Treasurers of Victoria
1146:People from Den Helder
776:Treasurers of Victoria
651:Parliament of Victoria
255:Captain William Hobson
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231:
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1121:Settlers of Melbourne
1093:Treasurer of Victoria
622:Angus & Robertson
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125:Lonsdale was born in
16:Australian politician
1097:Jul 1853 – Aug 1854
1070:Oct 1851 – Aug 1853
173:Lonsdale arrived in
719:, 1836, 1, 395, 709
612:"Lonsdale, William"
117:from 1839 to 1854.
643:"William Lonsdale"
539:– via Trove.
169:Colonial Australia
1109:
1108:
1100:Succeeded by
1086:Frederick Powlett
1073:Succeeded by
1067:Nominated Member
1045:
1044:
439:978-0-522-84459-7
185:Van Diemen's Land
180:Bussorah Merchant
100:
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51:Batavian Republic
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1083:Preceded by
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657:on 23 April 2023
653:. Archived from
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222:Alexander McLeay
103:William Lonsdale
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496:. p. 190.
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380:Lonsdale Street
364:In 1851, after
277:HMS Rattlesnake
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131:failed campaign
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189:Port Macquarie
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65:(aged 64)
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61:28 March 1864
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711:(Melb, 1959)
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707:R. D. Boys,
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659:. Retrieved
655:the original
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625:. Retrieved
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459:. Retrieved
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333:Williamstown
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299:Rattlesnake'
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107:Port Phillip
102:
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63:(1864-03-28)
18:
1136:1864 deaths
1131:1799 births
1076:John Foster
932:Prendergast
329:Yarra River
314:Rattlesnake
307:John Batman
288:Yarra River
284:Hobsons Bay
269:Rattlesnake
261:Rattlesnake
197:Sydney Town
151:West Indies
1115:Categories
620:. Sydney:
565:Wikisource
402:References
155:lieutenant
127:Den Helder
121:Early life
47:Den Helder
1002:Stockdale
957:Macfarlan
922:McPherson
867:O'Loghlen
822:McCulloch
787:Mackenzie
738:The Times
661:27 August
592:10 August
448:1833-7538
393:Late life
382:, in the
259:HMS
111:Melbourne
71:, England
1007:Napthine
982:Thompson
967:McDonald
797:Lonsdale
627:9 August
610:(1949).
586:Archived
553:(1892).
507:7 August
498:Archived
461:7 August
456:70677943
366:Victoria
159:adjutant
145:, as an
115:La Trobe
93:Children
1048:
1032:O'Brien
1022:Lenders
997:Sheehan
962:Hollway
947:Dunstan
917:Elmslie
897:Peacock
872:Gillies
857:Service
852:Francis
837:Langton
792:Powlett
535:25 June
1037:Pallas
1017:Brumby
1012:Bracks
942:Argyle
927:Lawson
902:Irvine
892:Turner
887:Carter
882:Shiels
832:Haines
827:Verdon
817:Harker
807:Foster
802:Sladen
678:; 1991
454:
446:
436:
337:Sydney
175:Sydney
147:ensign
85:Spouse
69:London
1027:Wells
992:Roper
987:Jolly
977:Hamer
972:Bolte
937:Hogan
877:Munro
862:Smith
847:Berry
842:Byrne
812:Ebden
501:(PDF)
494:(PDF)
229:spot.
952:Cain
912:Watt
907:Bent
663:2022
629:2014
594:2014
537:2013
509:2014
463:2014
452:OCLC
444:ISSN
434:ISBN
346:and
257:and
58:Died
40:Born
245:."
193:née
139:née
1117::
688::
649:.
645:.
614:.
559:.
525:.
471:^
450:.
442:.
432:.
422:.
410:^
49:,
768:e
761:t
754:v
665:.
631:.
596:.
567:.
511:.
465:.
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