History of Australia by George William Rusden (Volume II, 1883)
The book covers roughly the period from Governor Darling's arrival in New South Wales (December 1825) through key events up to the mid-1840s, including the completion of Van Diemen's Land settlement, early explorations (especially Charles Sturt's and Hamilton Hume's expeditions), the separation of Victoria (Port Phillip District) and settlement in Gipps Land (named after Governor Sir George Gipps), and broader colonial developments.
Rusden, an English-born author who emigrated to Australia as a youth and later wrote histories of both Australia and New Zealand, presents a narrative sympathetic to Aboriginal peoples while incorporating his Tory political views. The work is considered an early comprehensive contribution to Australian historiography, though critics later described parts of it as partisan.
Key Themes and Major Events in Volume II
The volume opens with a detailed account of Governor Ralph Darling (1825–1831). Darling arrived amid lingering resentment from emancipist and "patriotic" groups toward his predecessor, Sir Thomas Brisbane. He introduced a Legislative Council (with a mix of military, judicial, clerical, and colonial members) and an Executive Council, accompanied by administrative reforms and efforts to elevate colonial society. Darling and his Colonial Secretary, Alexander Macleay, faced sharp criticism from figures like Dr. Wardell and William Wentworth in the press (notably the *Australian*).
A major section details exploration under Darling:
- Allan Cunningham's botanical and exploratory work in the Hunter River region and Moreton Bay (discovering Darling Downs and Cunningham's Gap).
- The 1828–1829 Hume and Sturt expedition (with Hamilton Hume), which traced the Murray River and later the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan, naming the Darling River after the Governor. The explorers faced drought, salt water, and hardship but returned with key geographical knowledge. Sturt's further journeys (1829 onward) pushed further into the interior.
Condition of the colonies
forms a central later chapter. It covers land regulations (grants, purchases, quit-rents), immigration patterns, and the impact of free settlement and Bigge's 1820s report (which criticized Macquarie's administration and spurred more free immigration). The period included financial crises, droughts, and debates over convict service, press freedom, and judicial reforms. Rusden discusses the shift away from grand juries and the administration of justice by information rather than indictment.
The volume also addresses the cessation of transportation
(a major policy shift affecting both colonies) and the broader "general condition" of the settlements, including social and economic adjustments.
Gipps Land and Victoria Settlement (Late 1830s–Early 1840s)
A substantial portion focuses on the discovery and early occupation of Gipps Land
(modern eastern Victoria). This builds on earlier explorations by Hamilton Hume (who reached the Goulburn River area in 1824) and extends into more detailed accounts:
- James Macarthur, Charles Nicholson, and others (including Count Paul Strzelecki, a Polish explorer) undertook expeditions from Camden Park and other stations.
- Strzelecki's 1839–1840 journey (with Hume's nephew George McMillan and others) reached Gipps Land via the Tambo and Latrobe rivers. They named the territory after Governor Gipps, explored Lake Omeo and the Kosciuszko area, and faced severe challenges in dense bush (cutting paths through thick undergrowth, eating native bears for food, and relying on Aboriginal guides like Charley Tarra).
- Strzelecki's maps and reports were influential; the name "Gipps Land" was adopted officially. Subsequent parties (including the "Singapore" expedition) confirmed the area's potential for settlement.
The occupation involved squatting, conflicts with Aboriginal groups (sometimes leading to reprisals), and practical challenges like labor shortages and route-finding. Rusden notes the explorers' hospitality toward each other and the mixed role of convicts and free settlers.
Rusden’s History of Australia (1883) discusses convicts extensively, especially in relation to the system of transportation and its eventual abolition. He devotes an entire chapter (XIII) to the “Cessation of Transportation,” analyzing how convict labor shaped colonial society and how its end marked a turning point in Australia’s identity.