PREFACE

These reminiscences of the early days of Melbourne—a city which, as a family, we helped to found—awakened, when first published in the columns of the Australasian, an amount of general interest most gratifying to the writer.

It is hoped that, in their present more convenient form, they may secure and retain the approbation of the public.

I should feel bound to apologise for the mention of names in full were I not conscious that I have written no line calculated to offend; nor have I, for one moment, failed in sincere goodwill towards every comrade of that joyous time.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
PAGE
A.D. 1840[1]
CHAPTER II
The Far West[10]
CHAPTER III
The Death of Violet[23]
CHAPTER IV
Dunmore[33]
CHAPTER V
Squattlesea Mere[41]
CHAPTER VI
The Eumeralla War[51]
CHAPTER VII
The Children of the Rocks[63]
CHAPTER VIII
The Native Police[74]
CHAPTER IX
Kilfera[87]
CHAPTER X
Old Port Fairy[98]
CHAPTER XI
Portland Bay[106]
CHAPTER XII
Grasmere[121]
CHAPTER XIII
Superior Fattening Country[132]
CHAPTER XIV
Burchett of "The Gums"[142]
CHAPTER XV
Work and Play[151]
CHAPTER XVI
The Romance of a Freehold[160]
CHAPTER XVII
Le Chevalier Bayard[170]
CHAPTER XVIII
The Christening of Heidelberg[179]
CHAPTER XIX
The Woodlands Steeplechase[187]
CHAPTER XX
Yering[200]
CHAPTER XXI
Tales of a "Traveller"[212]
CHAPTER XXII
Yambuk[222]
POEMS
Ballaarat in 1851[237]
The Death of Welford[242]
Sunset in the South[244]
Balaclava[246]
The Bushman's Lullaby[249]
Morning[252]
Wanted[253]
Perdita[255]
"Priez pour Elle"[257]