SECOND CENTURY BEGINS

Evening Star, Issue 21881, 19 November 1934, Page 12

SECOND CENTURY BEGINS

VICTORIA CELEBRATES THE PAST HISTORIC LANDIHG AT PORTLAND RE-ENACTED Press Associationr-By Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, November 19. (Received November 19, at 1.25 p.m.) To-day begins the second century in the history of Victoria. Just 100 years ago the Henty family landed, at Portland froili the small schooner Thistle, with their few cattle and sheep, and established the first settlement in Victoria. Tile celebrations which have boon proceeding for a week at Portland culminated to-day with the presentation of a pageant re-enacting the historic landing. The usual population of the town (2,000) Was swelled to more than 20,000 for the occasion, with visitors from far and near.

Many descendants of the Hentys were among the visitors, including Mrs Coster, from Nelson, New Zealand, who is visiting Portland with her daughter (Miss Nellie) Coster). Mrs Coster’ is Stephen Henty’s only surviving daughter. She and her brother, George Edward Henty, who was unable to leave Sydney on account of illness, belong to the generation which immediately followed the Henty pioneer brothers.

The proceedings to-day began with a united service on the beach, in- the cold, grey light of dawn. Lord Huntingfield attended the service.

The Duke of Gloucester arrived in the. Sussex from Tasmania at 10.35 a.m. He came ashore to witness the pageant depicting the historic landing of the Hentys.