VICPort & river
Melbourne
Pastures, freshwater and a port on the Yarra.
1835Permanent settler camp established
WHAT STARTED IT
Melbourne began through private ventures seeking access to Port Phillip’s grazing land. The Yarra offered freshwater and a landing place, allowing a settlement to supply expanding sheep runs and ship their produce.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
Gold-era commerce expanded an earlier port and administrative settlement. Finance, education and other metropolitan services supplied roles far beyond its first grazing and shipping trade.
Read the fuller history
Competing groups associated with John Batman and John Pascoe Fawkner arrived in 1835. The NSW government initially rejected the settlement and Batman’s claimed land agreement, then established authority as arrivals continued. Melbourne was formally proclaimed a town in 1837; the gold rush later transformed its scale.
TURNING POINTS
1835Fawkner’s party establishes a permanent camp on the Yarra.
1837The government proclaims and names Melbourne.
2025The West Gate Tunnel opened to traffic on 14 December, creating a second major river crossing and diverting trucks from inner-west streets.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
Victoria’s capital and a large centre for finance, education, culture and services. Its original river landing has become part of a dense metropolitan waterfront.