THE FIRST YEAR OF THE SETTLEMENT 133 



the members of the Association was approximately as follows : 

 Batman's selection, as might be supposed from his having priority 

 of choice, was certainly the most valuable, as it was by far the 

 largest. It embraced all the land, for a distance of about fifteen 

 miles, north of the Yarra settlement, extending on the westward to 

 the Salt Water Eiver and eastward to the Plenty. It included the 

 rich lands stretching through Broadmeadows up to Bulla, a fine 

 section of the Keilor Plains, and the lightly timbered park-like 

 country about Preston and Epping. Had his title been confirmed 

 to this magnificent estate, and his family been able to hold it until 

 to-day, probably the entire course of settlement in Victoria would 

 have been changed. If not, the Batman family would be the 

 holders of property yielding a revenue quite equal to some of the 

 minor kingdoms of Europe, Of the remaining lots, No. 1, con- 

 taining the rich volcanic country extending from Gisborne to Lance- 

 field, fell to the lot of Captain Swanston, the Hobart banker. No. 

 2, adjoining him on the east, to Major Mercer, and blocks 3 and 

 4, still farther to the east, were the ones reserved for future allot- 

 ment. Lots 5, 6 and 7, which lay to the south of the first four, 

 between them and Batman's, extending from about Mount Aitken, 

 across by Sunbury, to the neighbourhood of the Yan Yean Beser- 

 voir, were appropriated respectively by Messrs. Sams, Solomon and 

 Bannister. Block No. 8, which fell to the lot of Governor Arthur's 

 nephew, appears on Wedge's map to be outside the boundary of 

 the treaty land, lying to the east of the supposed course of the 

 Yarra, and as nearly as can be judged took in the country around 

 Templestowe, and a large portion of what was afterwards known 

 as " Unwin's Special Survey ". Nos. 10 and 11, lying to the west 

 of the Salt Water Biver, and extending to the Werribee, were 

 taken respectively by Messrs. Cotterill and Collicott ; and No. 12, 

 a compact block on the Werribee Plains around Mount Cotterill, 

 by Gellibrand. Block 13, which extended from the mouth of the 

 Salt Water Kiver at Williamstown, along the western shore of 

 Port Phillip to the mouth of the Werribee, and back to Gellibrand 's 

 section, passed to John Holder Wedge. Beyond the Werribee, Mr. 

 Simpson, the police magistrate, secured block 14, which included 

 the plains to the foot of Station Peak. No. 15, lying between 



