Founded by free settlers from the British Crown colony of Van Diemen's Land on 30 August 1835, in what was then the colony of New South Wales, it was incorporated as a Crown settlement in 1837. It was named "Melbourne" by the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Richard Bourke, in honor of the British Prime Minister of the day, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne.
Melbourne was officially declared a city by Queen Victoria in 1847, after which it became the capital of the newly founded colony of Victoria in 1851. During the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s, it was transformed into one of the world's largest and wealthiest cities. After the federation of Australia in 1901, it served as the nation's interim seat of government until 1927. Since its settlement Melbourne has gone through a number of spatial shifts that has helped shaped it into the city it is today. |
Spatial Influences of Major Critical Shifts in Melbourne
Through our research we have identified 7 critical shifts that have shaped and expanded Melbourne from a settlement town in Australia to the World's most livable city. As shown above, each critical point has made a significant contribution into the urban development of the city's metropolitan reach since the beginning of its settlement in 1835. To learn more about each critical point and its impact on Melbourne, use the navigation buttons above and
References
“The History of the City of Melbourne”, Records and Archives, City of Melbourne. Published November 1997.
“The History of the City of Melbourne”, Records and Archives, City of Melbourne. Published November 1997.