The 1838 Land Sales
This information is quoted from the NSW Government Gazette, 30 May 1838. It includes details of the first sales of land in what later became the Heidelberg area. At the same land sale, many other allotments were sold, as far west as modern day Essendon, to the north as far as present day Yan Yean and to the south west at "William's Town."
Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, 29th May, 1838. PORT PHILLIP. SALE OF TOWN ALLOTMENTS.AT Eleven o'clock of Thursday, the 13th day of September next, the Colonial Treasurer will put up to AUCTION, within the George-street Market Building, Letter C, the undermentioned TOWN ALLOTMENTS, upon the Conditions authorised by Government. Further particulars respecting the Allotments may be obtained from the Surveyor General, and respecting the Conditions from the Colonial Treasurer. VIZ:- MELBOURNE. Allotments Nos. 7 to 19, both inclusive, in section 6. Allotments Nos. 10 to 19, both inclusive, in section 11. Allotments Nos. 1 to 4 and 15 to 20 inclusive, in section 15. Allotments Nos. 1 to 20 inclusive, in section 18. Allotments Nos. 1 to 20 inclusive, in section 22. WILLIAM'S TOWN. Allotments No. 1 to 9 inclusive and No. 20, in section 2. Allotments Nos. 1 to 9 inclusive and No. 20, in section 4.By Command of His Excellency the Governor, E. DEAS THOMSON.
More Details Followed in the same Government Gazette:
Several pages later in the same edition of the Gazette, there followed an announcement that had come out 9 days earlier; 20th May, 1838. A few things are different between the two announcements.
- The date for the auction changed from "WEDNESDAY, the 12th day of September next" in the earlier version to "Thursday, the 13th day of September next".
- The earlier description "PORTIONS OF LAND" was changed to "TOWN ALLOTMENTS".
- In the earlier listing, William's Town allotments were not mentioned.
- The May 20th version gives details of each of the allotments for sale; parish name, size, a description of the boundaries etc. This information is not provided with the May 29th announcement, so we do not discover here the details of the William's Town Portions.
- The price of 5s per acre is stated. This practice is also followed for areas in NSW etc. which were advertised in Gazettes. This appears to have been a minimum or "upset" price.