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Melbourne's History
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Melbourne is founded
Melbourne was founded by John Batman in 1835 after the treaty with the Aboriginal elders was signed to purchase 600,000 acres of land. When Batman returned to Tasmania, ex-convict John Pascoe Fawkner bought a ship - The Enterprize - to Port Phillip intending to settle. Once Batman arrived back - after disputes - they agreed to share the land.
[Photo: Replica of the tall ship 'Enterprize'] -
Melbourne declared a city
Melbourne was declared a city by Queen Victoria on 25th June and also became the capital of Victoria. -
Victoria becomes a colony
In 1851 the British Government separates Victoria from New South Wales and makes it a new colony. -
First telegraph service
The first telegraph line in Australia was put between Melbourne and Williamstown on the 3rd March 1854 by Canadian telegrapher Samuel W. McGowan.
[Photo: Samuel W. McGowan] -
Melbourne's population reaches 125,000
Melbourne's population reaches 125,000 -
First Melbourne Cup
The first Melbourne Cup was held in 1861 on the Flemington Racecourse and originally went for 2 miles.
[Photo: The Melbourne Cup in the 1880s] -
Melbourne becomes Australia's most populated city
Melbourne overtakes Sydney to become Australia's most populated city -
Federation
The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901. Disagreements between Melbourne and Sydney over who was to be the capital of Australia lead to the Australian Capital Territory being formed where a new city (Canberra) would become the capital. Until Canberra was constructed Parliament stayed in Melbourne.
[Photo: Federation Pavilion in Centennial Park, Sydney.] -
Shrine of Remembrance opened
The Shrine of Remembrance was built as a memorial to the men and women who served in war. It was officially opened on the 11th November 1934 in Kings Domain on St Kilda Road Melbourne.
[Photo: Shrine of Remembrance] -
Black Friday
The Black Friday fires of 1939 were considered one of the worst bushfires in the world and definitely the worst in Australia. 71 people lost their lives and almost 20,000 km² of land were burnt. Along with the 1944 bushfires these events pushed to have better country fire services and on the 2nd April 1945 the Country Fire Authority (CFA) was formed.
[Photo: CFA logo] -
Melbourne Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics were held in Melbourne and became known as the 'Friendly Games'.
[Photo: 1956 Summer Olympics logo] -
West Gate Bridge accident
Two years into the construction of the West Gate Bridge at 11.50 am on 15 October 1970, 35 construction workers died when a section of the West Gate Bridge collapsed.
[Photo: West Gate Bridge] -
Melbourne turns 175!
Melbourne Celebrates it's 175th Birthday.
[Photo: Melbourne's 175th birthday cake]
