Page 15 - 1977 NAB CalendarMaritime Life in early Australia Part One

RIVER YARRA YARRA FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF PRINCE S

BRIDGE, MELBOURNE

JUNE
The foreground scene is the Yarra from below Princes Bridge to “The Falls”, then on its original site in William Street, between Bourke and Collins Streets.
a natural reef located near where Queens Bridge (original name Falls The foundation stone of St. James’s was laid in November, 1839, by Governor
Bridge) is today, and in the distance the crowded bay and the buildings of La Trobe and the building was opened in October, 1842. It became a
the city. In the early days of Melbourne the Falls were the main source of cathedral in 1848 on the installation of Bishop Perry. Robert Russell designed
water supply, marking the limit of navigation and the beginning of fresh the building, but changes were made to his plans and instead of a steeple, a
water. In 1839 Captain Lonsdale had the line of rocks reinforced, and over tower was added which became known as the “Pepper Pot”.
the years mud, stone, mortar and other materials were added. At low tide the In the 1870’s it was decided to build a new cathedral on the present site of St.
rocks were used as a ford but as settlement spread to the south bank, a ferry Paul’s. The old cathedral became hemmed in by large city buildings. It also fell
service was introduced. In 1883 the Falls were removed with dynamite. into disrepair and became unsafe, and in 1914 was removed to its present
In 1853, Melbourne was a bustling port because of the gold discoveries location on the corner of King and Batman Streets.
which had begun in 1851. A visitor wrote that . . along it the entire distance Edmund Thomas was born at Cheltenham, England, in 1827, and arrived in
was a line of lighter and intercolonial vessels, four deep”, and an Argus Melbourne in November, 1852. He later went to Sydney where he became an
report of March 2, 1853, described the river as being “blocked up with instructor in drawing at the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, holding the
vessels”. Among the city buildings St. James’s Old Cathedral stands out, position for many years. He died in Sydney in 1867.

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