A Voyage From Plymouth To Melbourne In 1839
The Shipboard & Early Melbourne Diary of Jonathan Binns Were
Published by J.B. Were 1964 1st Edition
A Nice, Clean Copy With Large Foldout Family Tree Chart
"A Voyage From Plymouth To Melbourne In 1839 preserves the remarkable shipboard journal and early colonial diary of Jonathan Binns Were, one of the pioneering figures in the commercial history of Victoria and founder of the celebrated Melbourne stockbroking firm J. B. Were & Son. Recording his voyage aboard the William Metcalfe and his arrival at the tiny settlement of Port Phillip in November 1839, the diary offers a vivid first-hand account of the challenges, aspirations and daily experiences of an educated English immigrant embarking upon a new life in the Australian colonies.
The work provides fascinating insights into life at sea, the lengthy passage from England to Australia, and the formative years of Melbourne before the gold rush transformed the settlement. Were's observations reveal the realities of colonial society, business opportunities and the character of the fledgling township at a time when Melbourne was little more than a frontier outpost. Rich in historical detail and personal reflection, the diary represents an important primary source for students and collectors of early Australian and Victorian history.
Published in 1964 by J. B. Were as a first edition presentation volume for clients, this handsome copy is bound in the original green cloth with gilt lettering and is illustrated with a portrait frontispiece and a large folding map tracing the voyage from Plymouth to Melbourne. Also included is the desirable large foldout family tree chart, enhancing the book's genealogical interest. A clean and well-preserved example, it is an attractive and increasingly sought-after work documenting one of the earliest chapters in Melbourne's commercial and social development."
