MELBOURNE'S OLDEST RESIDENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 70

MELBOURNE'S OLDEST RESIDENT.

CONTEMPORARY .OF BATMAN. . In a recent- iseue of the Melbourne Argus there appeared an interview, with Melbourne's oldest resident, Mrs Creswick, who is now 79 years of age. Mrs Creswick was ' born in. Aberdeen, Scotland, and in '1833 waa taken to Tasmania by her parents. "My father was -Dr Alexander Thomson," 'she said. "He held the diploma of the Royal College; of Surgeons. He received a land grant from Governor Arthur —the last that was issued in Tasmania under the Imperial regulations— which he was induced to leave by Mr' John Batnmn, in order to follow the early pioneers to Port Phillip and engage in pastoral purThe Thomsons embarked at Launeeston on the Caledonia, a .three-masted vessel commanded by Captain Symers, which anchored off Point Gellibrand (Williamstown) on March 13, 1836, because "there was a bar of mud at tfoa mouth of the river, over which the water flowed only 9ft." The passengers by the Caledonia landed at the "Point," Miss Thomsons Highland pony being swum ashore. Dr Thomson his tent at the "Point, but the other passengers proceeded to "Tie Settlement." At thi» time "The Settlement" comprised about a dozen huts, built with turf, on a gently-sloping hill on the north bank of the river, near the Falls (now the site of Queen's bridge). There was a publiohouse — the Royal Hotel — kept by Mr John Fawkner, where Mr Fisher eaid "they could get a glass of bad rum and plenty of water "by paying a good nnoe for the tame r but they could get nothing to eat nor a • place to sleep in. (Fawkner's Hotel stood near what subeequentlv became the corner of Collins and Market streets.) There was also a mud. hut — "The Mansion-house " — about 20ft Ions: and 12ft broad, which waa the residence and "court"' of Constable Henry Batman, brother of John. The white population numbered about 50 jjersons. /

About a week a£fcer they landed at th* "Point" the Thomsons struck their tent and— moved to "The Settlement," where, in the shad© of a magnificent gum treeone of "a broherhood of venerable trees —the tent was re-ereoted. This tree waa gradually lopped of its branches, but its gnarled trunk, ivy-clad, waa one of the most interesting landmarks of Melboturne until it was hewn down in 1891 to make place for the offices of the Metropolitan Gas Company, in Flinders street, opposite Prince's Bridge Station. The tent was used by devout pioneers every Sunday morningas a place of public worehip, the Church of England service being read by Dr Thomson, who was a member of the Church of Scotland.