XIV. 
series of events which occurred during the administration of the then Governor, Sir 
George Gipps (1838-46), which combined to make this period one of the most 
important epochs in the past history of Australia. 
The need of enterprise and some of the pioneering difficulties to be encountered 
are suggested by the following extracts from a little book published by the late Hon. 
W. A. Brodribb, a squatter of some years’ older standing than Sir William, and one 
of the speakers on the occasion of the opening of the Linnean Hall to be referred to 
later on :— 
“ At this time (1842), very little was known of the country situated on the western side of the main 
road passing from New South Wales to Victoria on the Lower Murray, Edward, Billabong, Murrumbidgee, 
Lachlan, and Darling Rivers. The general impression was that all this lower country to the westward 
was too dry, too flat, and too arid for any purpose, and the few who had travelled over it described it as a 
miserable, wretched, useless country. Some few localities were taken up on the banks of some of the 
rivers ; little or no value was attached to them. Experience since has proved all this country to be the 
most valuable portion of New South Wales for the breeding and fattening of sheep, cattle, and horses, and 
the greater portion of the fat stock consumed in Victoria now is fattened in this country. Had the 
overlanders of 1842 been aware of this, they never would have gone to the expense and trouble of 
attempting to find the route to the new country named Gippsland, and discovered by the Count [Strzelecki].” 
(p. 24). 
“JT may here remark for many years all this country was considered useless for any purpose ; in fact, 
it was considered a desert for more than eight months in each year, and during the continuance of the hot 
weather, even if it would answer, the distance and bad roads to the markets would be another great 
objection to occupying it ; besides, the aborigines were hostile and dangerous. 
“ Notwithstanding, many of our young men, enterprising colonists, fond of novelty and danger, formed 
cattle and sheep stations on the banks of the permanent streams, such as Messrs. . . . William and 
John Macleay (nephews of the late Colonial Secretary, Mr. Alexander Macleay),” and others (p. 65).* 
To some of the more important events which occurred during Governor Gipps’ 
administration brief reference may also be made, for in giving full effect to the 
redtape measures of Downing Street, in whose interests very much more than in 
those of the colonists he administered the Government, Sir George succeeded in 
arraying against himself in bitter hostility and antagonism every colonial class and 
interest. Among other things his departure from the land policy of his popular 
predecessor, Sir Richard Bourke, rendered him particularly obnoxious to the 
squatters. Free grants of land offered in the interests of emigration having ceased 
in 1831, grants by purchase were introduced. In Governor Bourke’s time the Crown 
lands of the interior suitable for pastoral occupation were offered for sale by auction 
at the upset price of five shillings per acre, the object being by not restricting but 
by encouraging occupancy of the land to an unlimited extent to promote the settlement 
of the country, and to stimulate colonisation of the right sort by giving freehold 
* “Recollections of an Australian Squatter, or leaves from my Journal since 1835.’ By Hon. W. A. Brodribb, 
F.R.G.S., M.L.C. [8vo. Sydney: John Woods & Co. (1883).] 
