Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 4 April 1914, page 18


FIRST GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

LAST INSPECTION BY VISITORS. THE GOVERNOR TAKES PART.

The first Government House of Victoria, at Jolimont, which is now tottering to ruin, and will shortly be demolished to make way for extensions of a neighbouring boot factory, was the scene of an interesting functon yesterday. The Early Pioneers' Association, recognising the historic import of the action, arranged a last official in-spection. Numbers of old colonists assem-bled long before the time appointed, and exchanged reminiscences until the arrival of the Governor (Sir Arthur Stanley). His Excellency, who was accompanied by Lady Stanley, was welcomed by the Lord Mayor (Councillor D. V. Hennessy).

The Lord Mayor congratulated the Early Pioneers' Association and its secretary (Mr. W. Smithers Gadd) upon its decision not to allow the old house to be demolished without some ceremony. Mr. C. J. La Trobe, the first Governor of Victoria, was the son of a Moravian clergyman, and sub-sequently became companion to a French gentleman. While travelling in Switzer-land he first met his future wife. In 1837 he was appointed first Governor of Victoria. The flourishing condition of the city of Mel-hourne to-day—the seventh city in the Bri-tish Empire—was an evidence of the pro-gressive energy of the old pioneers. La Trobe came to Melbourne in the Pyramus rather unexpectedly, and was welcomed by Captain Lonsdale and Mr. Rucker. The population was then 2,500. It was now 609,000. The site whch Governor La Trobe selected for his house cost £10 an acre, and altogether £500. Half a century later it realised £40,000. He called it Joli-mont, after a spot near Neufchatel, in Switzerland, and built his home from the timber of his old chalet. Trouble arose in his fifteenth year of office over the licens-ing of miners, and he resigned at the age of 50 years. He died in 1875. Their gathering together at this function was in keeping with their policy of honouring pub-lic-spirited men. (Applause.)

Sir Arthur Stanley said that it gave him a peculiar feeling in taking part in a func-tion connected with the first step of his first predecessor. The first Governor's duties were more arduous than his. Gover-nor La Trobe had to carry out the laws of a young community, which, like a young child, was inclined to be lawless. The duties were now systematised. Old landmarks disappeared with the advance of a progres-sive city, and he considered some kind of mural record should be placed on the new building to be erected. The name of Joli-mont, however, would stay for all time.

The Minister of Lands (Mr. Lawson) and Sir John Forrest also gave brief ad-

dresses.

Mr. D. Bedggood, whose factory will be extended over the site, promised the Go-vernment whatever portion of the building that was desired as a relic, and stated his intention of erecting a building in his own garden with the other material. This would be open to the public for inspection.

A vote of thanks to the Governor and Lady Stanley was passed, on the motion of Mr. Thomas Lang, president, and Mr. W. Smithers Gadd, secretary of the Old

Pioneers' Association.

The Union Jack was then unfurled from the flagstaff of the building.