1837 Hoddle's Town of Melbourne Map
SKU: MM_1033
Description
An early map of Melbourne from March 1837, drawn by Robert Hoddle.
The location of the "Settlement" (as Melbourne was known at that time) was selected by John Batman in 1835, and dozens of people from Van Diemen's Land had subsequently moved to the Settlement with livestock and agricultural intentions.
In October 1836 Governor Bourke had sent a small team of surveyors, lead by Robert Russell, to define the orientation and boundaries of the new Settlement. Russell's survey of the location and surrounding areas is shown in this 1837 map that Hoddle based his map on.
Bourke visited the village in March 1837, bringing with him surveyor Robert Hoddle, with the main intention to prepare the site for land sales.
Hoddle laid a grid in accordance with established Town Planning Regulations, using Russell's survey as a base for the location and orientation of the Settlement. Hoddle defined the block sizes and street widths using the Regulations and approval from Bourke. Hoddle has marked some proposed locations for certain public buildings, such as the gaol, hospital, market and church.
During Bourke's visit a number of items were determined, such as
- Street widths
- Street names
- "Little" streets or lanes were created
- the name of the Settlement - to be called "Melbourne", named after the then-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. (William Lamb's wife was Lady Caroline Lamb, notorious for her public affair with the poet Lord Byron)
The first land auctions were held in Melbourne on 1st June 1837 and a second round of auctions were held in Sydney on the 1st November 1837.
Click here to see more images of the "Falls".
Click here to see more images of "Early Melbourne Maps".
All text © HotPress
This is a digitally retouched reproduction of the original held by the Public Records Office of Victoria.
Our team of conservators have worked on a high resolution digital image in order to remove age-related damage caused by the handling and storage of the original. We strive to provide authentic representations of the original work that are suitable for enlargements that retain the tones and character of the original.
Description
An early map of Melbourne from March 1837, drawn by Robert Hoddle.
The location of the "Settlement" (as Melbourne was known at that time) was selected by John Batman in 1835, and dozens of people from Van Diemen's Land had subsequently moved to the Settlement with livestock and agricultural intentions.
In October 1836 Governor Bourke had sent a small team of surveyors, lead by Robert Russell, to define the orientation and boundaries of the new Settlement. Russell's survey of the location and surrounding areas is shown in this 1837 map that Hoddle based his map on.
Bourke visited the village in March 1837, bringing with him surveyor Robert Hoddle, with the main intention to prepare the site for land sales.
Hoddle laid a grid in accordance with established Town Planning Regulations, using Russell's survey as a base for the location and orientation of the Settlement. Hoddle defined the block sizes and street widths using the Regulations and approval from Bourke. Hoddle has marked some proposed locations for certain public buildings, such as the gaol, hospital, market and church.
During Bourke's visit a number of items were determined, such as
- Street widths
- Street names
- "Little" streets or lanes were created
- the name of the Settlement - to be called "Melbourne", named after the then-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. (William Lamb's wife was Lady Caroline Lamb, notorious for her public affair with the poet Lord Byron)
The first land auctions were held in Melbourne on 1st June 1837 and a second round of auctions were held in Sydney on the 1st November 1837.
Click here to see more images of the "Falls".
Click here to see more images of "Early Melbourne Maps".
All text © HotPress
This is a digitally retouched reproduction of the original held by the Public Records Office of Victoria.
Our team of conservators have worked on a high resolution digital image in order to remove age-related damage caused by the handling and storage of the original. We strive to provide authentic representations of the original work that are suitable for enlargements that retain the tones and character of the original.
