Land Sales of Boroondara
THE first sale of Boroondara land was held in Melbourne, December 13th, 1843. The lots were small and in the best situation; but of the eighteen allotments offered at the upset of £3 and £4 an acre, only four were purchased. Those put up were 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 10, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 50. Lot 11, of 16 acres, was bought by Alexander Davidson, of Melbourne, for £4 2s. an acre, or 2s. over the upset price; lot 12, of 14 acres, by the same, at £5; lot 13, of 13 acres, by the same, at £7; and lot 14, of 18 acres, at £4. These front the Yarra.
The second sale was in April 24th, 1844, when lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 25, 26, 28 got no offer, and Mr. Thomas McIntyre got 27, of 15 acres, at the upset of £3 an acre. This beautiful section on Hawthorne Hill, beside the Yarra, is now exceedingly valuable. The first five lots front the Gardiner’s Creek.
In 1844, March 20th, the first sale of Bulleen land took place, or, rather, was attempted; fo1 of the lots 1, 2, and 5, no one bid the upset of £1 an acre.
Boroondara came forward again January 22nd, 1845. Some of our present colonial aristocracy appear as buyers, as will be seen in the list :—
| Lot. | Section. | Acres. | Purchaser. | Upset. s. |
Cash. s. |
| 58 | 15 | 62 | John Wm. Cowee | 25 | 35 |
| 59 | 15 | 62 | Ditto | 25 | 47 6 |
| 55 | 15 | 91 | Horatio Spenser Wills | 40 | 69 |
| 60 | 14 | 53 | Thomas Wills | 20 | — |
| 61 | 14 | — | No offer | 20 | — |
| 21 | 6 | 17 | James Frederick Palmer | 40 | 100 |
| 25 | 6 | 15 | A. R. Cruickshank | 40 | 70 |
| 6 | 6 | 17 | James Durham Pinnock | 40 | 55 |
«22»By reference to the map the reader will observe that several of these are in the choicest situations of Boroondara. Dr. Palmer did not settle immediately upon his purchase.
In June 25th, 1845, no offer was made for 17 of 6. In August 20th, 1845, we have other Yarra frontages sold higher up. Mr. Oswin buys 52 of 16, 133 acres, for £3 an acre; and 53 of 16, 146 acres, at 42s. The purchaser of 54 of 15 and 16, 99 acres, was George Annand, at 70s. The last is leased to Mr. Wade, the farmer, and is very valuable. In October 22nd, 1845, A. Davidson, the first Boroondara buyer, takes section 3, of 13 acres, at 63s. an acre; and 8, 11¾ acres, at 51s.
The sale of March 11tb, 1846, appears thus :—
| Lot. | Section. | Acres. | Purchaser. | Upset. s. |
Cash. s. |
| 15 | 6 | 21 | Thomas Budd Payne | 40 | 100 |
| 16 | 6 | 19 | E. C. Hobson | 40 | 63 |
| 17 | 6 | 13¾ | Thomas Herbert Power | 50 | 126 |
| 49 | 6 | 11½ | Thomas Ratton | 50 | 60 |
| 50 | 6 | 28¾ | Michael Woodlock | 40 | 60 |
| 18 | 6 | 13 | T. B. Payne | 50 | 99 |
| 19 | 6 | 15¾ | J. F. Palmer | 40 | 70 |
| 20 | 6 | 16½ | Ditto | 40 | 95 |
| 56 | 15 | 77 | Thomas Wills | 30 | 75 |
| 57 | 15 | 72 | T. Wm. Cowell | 30 | 44 |
| 23 | 6 | 8 | James D. Pinnock | 80 | 125 |
| 23 | 6 | 10½ | Ditto | 80 | 105 |
Mr. Creswick resides on Mr. Pinnock’s lot 23 by the Yarra. Bought at £6 5s., some of it has realized £600 and £800 an acre.
At Melbourne, June 3rd, 1846, section 37, of 24 acres, went to Thomas Hague for 38s., with upset of 30s.; 38 of 24 acres, to Michael Lynch, for 30s.; and 6, of 6 acres, was forfeited by Michael Lynch being deemed much too dear at above £7 an acre. In ten years it would have realized some thousands per cent.
August 12th, 1846. Lot 3, of 351/2 acres, was sold to John Werge Howey at 46s.; 5, of 39½acres, to «23» Charles Hobson, at 46s. also; and 48, of 19 acres, to T. B. Payne, at 55s. Michael Lynch, in November 11th, 1840, gets 39, of 21 acres, at 50s.
In February 24th, 1847, are the following sales recorded:—
| Lot. | Acres. | Buyer. | Upset. s. |
Cash. s. |
| 1 | 57½ | Charles Robinson | 30 | 30 |
| 2 | 40 | Ditto | 30 | 30 |
| 4 | 34¾ | David Power | 40 | 48 |
| 35 | 19 | John McAley | 40 | 42 |
| 36 | 19 | Forfeited | ||
| 6 | 6a | A. Davidson | 50 | 150 |
In July 2nd, 1847, are—
| Lot. | Acres. | Buyer. | Upset. s. |
Cash. s. |
| 32 | 18½ | Thomas Brooks | 40 | 68 |
| 33 | 18½ | Matthew Hughs | 40 | 52 |
| 46 | 19½ | Ditto | 40 | 60 |
| 47 | 19½ | T. B. Payne | 40 | 80 |
In October 6th, 1847, the prices were low:—
| Lot. | Acres. | Buyer. | Upset. s. |
Cash. s. |
| 43 | 19¼a | No offer | 40 | — |
| 44 | 19¼ | Ditto | 40 | — |
| 45 | 19¼ | Matthew Hughes | 40 | 40 |
| 34 | 20 | Thomas McCarthy | 40 | 40 |
| 40 | 21 | Michael Lynch | 40 | 40 |
| 42 | 19¼ | Ditto | 40 | 40 |
In December 8th, 1847, we have James Colvin, of the "Bee Hive," purchasing 29 of 14, 10 acres, for 59s. an acre; John McAley, 30, 10 acres, for 44s.; Thomas Wills, 61 of 14, 50 acres, for 50s.
In the year 1848 but few lots were sold. They were all choice pieces in excellent positions. The first four were sold on March 1st, and the other two in December 13th. Most of the land is in the original owners’ hands «24».
| Lot. | Acres. | Buyer. | Upset. s. |
Cash. s. |
| 41 | 17¼ | Michael Lynch | 40 | 40 |
| 28 | 16¼ | Thomas McIntyre | 40 | 55 |
| 30 | 11½ | Thomas Brooks | 50 | 52 |
| 31 | 16¼ | Ditto | 40 | 40 |
| 43 | 19¼ | Thomas Lavidge | 40 | 53 |
| 44 | 19¼ | T. B. Payne | 40 | 60 |
Things greatly improved in 1850, the district was getting better known, and prices improved.
September 4th, 1850 :—
| Lot. | Acres. | Buyer. | Upset. s. |
Cash. s. |
| 62 | 32¼ | Thomas Lavidge | 40 | 85 |
| 63 | 40½ | W. S. Urquhart | 30 | 60 |
| 64 | 30¼ | Nehemiah Gutheridge | 40 | 75 |
| 65 | 30¼ | H. W. W. Liddiart | 40 | 190 |
| 66 | 38½ | Ditto | 40 | 140 |
| 67 | 44½ | Ditto | 40 | 105 |
| 68 | 50½ | T. B. Payne and J. McDonnell | 30 | 90 |
| 69 | 40½ | Ditto | 30 | 112 6 |
| A 5 | 150 | Nehemiah Gutheridge | 20 | 91 |
| A 1 | 100 | G. C. Downing and A. Haines | 20 | 35 |
| B 1 | 273 | Thomas Henderson | 20 | 26 |
| A 3 & 4 | 150 | Patrick Maloney and Michael Logan | 20 | 30 |
| A 8 & 9 | 150 | Ditto | 20 | 35 |
On September 5th C 3 of 50 was sold to John Conran and Denis Delaney at 30s. B 3, of 100 acres, was forfeited at 46s. On this day the first sale of Nunawading land took place. William Kerr bought lot 1, of 47 acres, for 30s.; Arundel Wright, lot 3, of 54 acres, for 30s.; John Crimp, 10, 55 acres, for 3ls.; and G. and W. Bennett 11, 66 acres, for 30s. There was no offer for 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
The year 1851, the outbreak of the diggings, was a happy time for buyers. Commercial matters were in a sad state, property had greatly fallen in value, and the people were rushing to the Sydney diggings, or scattering about our bush in search of gold. Even «25» after Ballarat and Mount Alexander burst forth, Melbourne folks were in a panic, for flocks were deserted of their shepherds, and the town was stripped of labourers. There were many, also, who feared that the country would never be settled, but that men would dig gold only to carry off with them to England, their home. Fortunately for capitalists, whether squatters or others, drunkenness will always supply them with hireling labour.
September, 18th, 1851 :—
| Lot. | Acres. | Buyer. | Upset. s. |
Cash. s. | >
| 70 | 124¼ | John Robert Murphy | 20 | 72 |
| 71 | 101 | Hussey Burgh Macartney | 20 | 56 |
| 72 | 74½ | Ditto | 20 | 80 |
| 73 | 69 | Pat. Mornane | 30 | 125 |
| 74 | 29½ | Charles Payne | 40 | 200 |
| 75 | 32¾ | John Bakewell | 40 | 400 |
| 76 | 126¼ | Ditto | 20 | 260 |
| 77 | 49¼ | Ellen Miller | 30 | 480 |
| 78 | — | Withdrawn | ||
| 79 | 113 | Fairfax Fenwick and Edward Bell | 20 | 182 |
Much of this land sold for £100 and even £300 an acre in three years after the purchase. 77 fronts the Yarra and the Park Reserve.
| Lot. | Acres. | Buyer. | Upset. s. |
Cash. s. | >
| 80 | 74 | Charles James Whyte | 30 | 123 |
| 81 | 81¼ | Peter Davis | 30 | 84 |
| 82 | 110 | Edward Dumeresq | 20 | 65 |
| 83 | 145½ | Charles Vaughan | 20 | 61 |
| 84 | 146 | Reid and Motherwell | 20 | 69 |
| 85 | 84¾ | C. Vaughan | 30 | 71 |
| 86 | 32 | Samuel Watt | 40 | 125 |
| 87 | 122½ | Nicholas Alex Fenwick | 20 | 86 |
| 88 | 196 | Catherine Cowell | 20 | 80 |
| 89 | 133 | George Annand | 20 | 92 |
| 90 | 35½ | William Oswin | 40 | 162 |
| 91 | 89¼ | Edward Glinn | 30 | 106 |
| A 2 | 198 | John Sullivan | 20 | 56 |
«26»
Some of this land, bought at a few pounds an acre, sold for even hundreds of pounds an acre within four years of the Government sale. Kew Village, and the land on both sides of the Cotham Road, were included in that day’s purchase. The original purchasers were nearly all speculators.
The first township land sold at Boroondara by Government, the Hawthorne township, was upon June 16th, 1852. The lots were half acres, the upset price of which was £4.
| Lot. | Acres. | Buyer. | Cost per Lot. |
| 1 | 2 | Michael Gallagher | £160 |
| 2 | 2 | Ditto | 155 |
| 3 | 2 | John Mason | 100 |
| 4 | 2 | Ditto | 100 |
| 5 | 2 | John Lee Smith | 115 |
| 6 | 2 | Michael Gallagher | 120 |
| 7 | 2 | C. Newman | 75 |
| 1 | 3 | R. Morris | 185 |
| 2 | 3 | James White | 160 |
| 3 | 3 | John Connell | 150 |
| 4 | 3 | G. H. Warren | 155 |
| 5 | 3 | Ditto | 175 |
| 6 | 3 | Ditto | 175 |
| 7 | 3 | R. Newstead | 170 |
| 8 | 3 | Logan and Maloney | 180 |
| 9 | 3 | John Connell | 205 |
The last sale, the heaviest of all, took place in Melbourne on March 24th, 1853. The faith in the land had risen, and the lots, distant and comparatively unimportant as they were, realized much improved prices. The buyers, as usual, were speculators, who, in many cases, made cent. per cent. for their money within a few months. The upset was £2 an acre:—
| Lot. | Acres. | Buyer. | Cost per Lot. |
| 92 | 30¾ | James Smith | £43 |
| 93 | 31 | William Perry | 32 |
| 94 | 26¾ | John Dane | 47 |
| 95 | 26½ | James Gill | 58 |
| 96 | 21 | Ditto | 75 |
«27»
| Lot. | Acres. | Buer. | Cost per Lot. |
| 97 | 21 | J. M. Smith | £61 |
| 98 | 21 | Pat Mornane | 38 |
| 99 | 21 | J. Le M. Winter | 40 |
| 100 | 28 | A. F. A. Greeves | 32 |
| 101 | 28 | John Allen | 28 |
| 102 | 21½ | James Gill | 44 |
| 103 | 22 | R. Macarthur | 42 |
| 104 A | 29½ | Pat. Mornane | 45 |
| 104 B | 32½ | Ditto | 40 |
| 105 A | 36½ | John Hodgson | 31 |
| 105 B | 40 | T. L. De Winter | 33 |
| 106 A | 36½ | J. C. Cole | 33 |
| 106 B | 40 | Campbell and Creswick | 31 |
| 107 | 76 | James Gill | 45 |
| 108 | 87 | Joseph Anderson | 33 |
| 109 | 75 | Michael Lynch | 30 |
| 110 | 48½ | Ditto | 27 |
| 111 | 43 | Peter Davis | 19 |
| 112 | 42¼ | Robert Cain | 21 |
| 113 | 16 | G. S. Durie | 27 |
| 114 | 16 | James Fowler | 40 |
| 115 | 35¼ | John Dane | 25 |
| 116 | 34¼ | James Gill | 37 |
| 117 | 46 | John O’Shanassy | 26 |
| 118 | 93¼ | Oliver Russell | 19 |
| 119 | 41¼ | Alfred Sykes | 20 |
| 120 | 40¼ | James M. Connell | 26 |
| 121 | 26½ | Edward Malby | 31 |
| 122 | 123½ | James Orr | 22 |
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