Centenary plaque 1834-1934, Coat of arms, Vires Acquirit Eundo, Edward Henty, John Batman, Charles Joseph LaTrobe
Summary
This plaque comemorates the centenary of European settlement of the Port Phillip District. It features the City of Melbourne coat of arms above relief portraits of individuals associated with this history: Edward Henty, John Batman and Charles Joseph LaTrobe.
Edward Henty and his brothers sailed to the Portland Bay area from Launceston with stock in 1834, first whaling before being granted preemptive rights over land to farm. A member of the Port Phillip Association, John Batman came to Port Phillip from Van Diemen's Land in 1835, intent on acquiring a massive swathe of country for a new permanent settlement through negotiating a 'treaty' with the traditional Aboriginal custodians. Charles Joseph La Trobe was appointed the first superintendent of the district, arriving in 1839. After separation from New South Wales, in 1851, he became Victoria's first lieutenant-governor.
