THE STORY 0F A GREAT ESTATE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11151, 18 December 1901, Page 8

THE STORY 0F A GREAT ESTATE.

(From the "Australasian," December 7th.)

The estate of Munthaui, situated in the Western District of Victoruv—the original Australia Felix—is connected with . ,the most remarkable episode in the colonisation of Victoria. At a time when Melbourne was not, and the place where .Geelong now stands was known by the natives as Corio, a band of enterprising and hardy pioneers had formed a settlement on the port shore of Portland Bay. This was no coddled and spoon-fed undertaking under the auspices of ' Government. The leader was an English yeoman, who came to Australia in a Vessel chartered by himself, and bringing with him his family and servants, also live stock of the best description that the Old Country couid furnish. They formed flocks and herds, they ploughed the land and grew crops, and they established a whaling station, for Portland Bay was then a favourite haunt of sperm and black whales. AVhat shows the spirit that .animated the little group of colonists in what was then perhaps the anost out-of-the-way part of the worm, they built a church in which divine service was held every Sunday. The head of the family was Thomas Hwity, who originally owned a iarm in the parish of West Tarring, Sussex. In the agricultural depression that followed the conclusion of the war France, after the battle ai Waterloo, Mr Uenty began to turn his attention to seeking a home in some other part of the world. He obtained an order to select 80,000 acres in Western Australia, aid he chartered a vessel named the Caroline, 340 .tons, in which were despatched several of his sons, a portion of hia famous merino flock, and some valuable horses and cattle, for the great unknown land in the south. The undertaking was a sell-contained - one, for the vessel carried all that was necessary to form an agricultural and pastoral establishment. The Caroline sailed from England on the 6th June, 1829, in charge of Mr James Henty, with whom were his younger brothers, Stephen, and John. Mr James Henty explored the coast country of West Australia, and, not finding any land suitable for settlement, he removed his people and live stock to Tasmania, where he was joined by his father and the rest ot-the family. Grants of land to settlers had osased in that colony, and with the view of finding some place for settlement, the coast of the mainland was searched, and Portland Bay was discovered. As there was some fair hind in the neighbourhood, and the bay afforded good shelter for small craft, v, settlement was made in 1834. ~ As whaling was* one of the industries practised by the family, they did not penetrate -far inland; indeed, at that : tune it was not safe for any but a strong party to venture far from the settlement. .

Sir Thomas Mitchell, who.led an. exploring party through the southern portion of Australia, reached Portland Bay in 1857, and to his surprise he found "a thriving little settlement where he expected to see the country in its native condition.' At first he thought these people were escaped bushrangers, and they thought the same of liim. When they became better acquainted he told the Messrs Henty of a' beautiful area of pasture land he had seen which was only about 40 miles .inland. He was so much taken with the beauty of the rolling downs and the fertility of the soil that he named it "Australia Felix." , Mr Stephen Henty ventured ont to inspect this country, and on his report .the Drothere started off with a number' , of sheep -to settle on the land. They were delighted with the beauty of the country, which was called jMerino Downs, different ■ localities being named alter places in far-away Suesex. How the Hentys prospered in that , beautiful land is well known t> most Vic--1 torians. In the course of time the brothers i formed estates on the downs, one of which was Munthain. No one will grudge ■■ the pioneers the success tihat rewarded their enterprise and energy. Of the live' stock they brought with them the merinoes de- \ erne eom'e mention. When , the. Merino i Society was formed in England, and an en- . de&vour was, mode to grow fine wool, .and thus render the country independent' of ; Spain, the flock of merinoes raised by Mr Henty at West Tarring was so much superior to oil others that the compliment was padd him of barring his, competition : for prizes, and he had to., exhibit for honour. While the flock was in Tasmania, rums from it were need by many aheepfarmers, they formed.part of the foundation stock of several of the- old Jocks, and some were token to New South Wales and afterwards to Port Phillip. Unfortunately the flock in after years was neglected, and .at last ceased to exist as a etud. The foregoing ia & brief outline of the story of. a daring enterprise conceived and corned out by an English yeoman and. hia family at their own risk. In all the records of British'colonisation it is doubtful if there is anything equal to it, , '