Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 41
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
Prior to the separation of the Port Phillip District from New South Wales three enabling
Acts were passed by the New South Wales Legislature, receiving the Governor's assent
on 2 May 1851. These related to preserving the jurisdiction and authority of public
officers and magistrates within the Colony of Victoria; providing for the division of the
Colony of Victoria into Electoral Districts and for the election of members to serve in the
Legislative Council; and providing that the revenue and others laws and regulations
made in and for the Colony of New South Wales would continue in force within the
Colony of Victoria until altered by the Legislature.
On 1 July 1851, the writs for the election of members to the Victorian Legislative Council
were issued, and the District of Port Phillip was declared to be separated from New South
Wales and established as an independent colony to be known and designated as the
Colony of Victoria.
I might here close the observations which it is my duty to address to you on this occasion, were I
not desirous of offering my hearty congratulations to the inhabitants of the new Colony of Victoria
on the certain prospect which is now opened to them of a speedy attainment of their long
expressed desire to become a separate Dependency of the Crown. The large revenue which is
there collected, - the astonishing amount of exports which it now produces, - the fertility of its
soil, - and the salubrity of its climate, give the surest promise of its continuing, after separation,
to increase in population, in wealth, and in general prosperity, with the same rapidity which has
characterised its progress whilst forming an integral portion of New South Wales.
part of the Governor's speech on prorogation of the Council in Votes and Proceedings of the
Legislative Council No.16, 2 May 1851, First session of 1851, p.35.
Colonial Secretary, later Chief Secretary
Main series of letters received
CGS 905
1845 Port Philip — CSIL 45/1527
CGS 905,
CSIL 45/1527
in [4/2703]
CSIL 45/1527 comprises a letter from the Superintendent of Port
Phillip, dated 21 February 1845, transmitting a petition from the
Town Council of Melbourne on the subject of the erection of the
District of Port Phillip into a separate and independent Colony. A
copy of the petition is included. The original petition was
forwarded to the Secretary of State in Governor's Despatch No.49
of 1845.
1846 Port Philip — CSIL 46/4794
CSIL 46/4794 comprises papers dating from 1844 to 1846 relating
to petitions from inhabitants of Port Phillip on the subject of
separation.
CGS 905,
CSIL 46/4794
in [4/2743]
Included are:
• a 1844 petition to the Governor from the Warden and Council of
the District of Bourke in the District of Port Phillip ("the District
of Port Phillip is from its magnitude, the extent of its Coast line,
and the value and productiveness of its Crown Lands aided by
its temperate Climate, peculiarly capable of forming a separate
Colony in itself");
• a copy of Secretary of State Despatch No.88 of 22 August 1845,
in which receipt of the Governor's despatch of 6 March (No.49),
with its enclosed petition from the members of the Town
Council of Melbourne is acknowledged, and his request to be
furnished with a "full & distinct" report on the subject of the
separation is repeated;
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State Records Authority of New South Wales