 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Dr Thomson's neighbour was David Fisher, who was manager of the Derwent Company that
replaced the Association. Fisher was another Scot, bom in 1801 at Roslin, south of Edinburgh.
As his activities and possessions would assume some significance to the Honeycombes in later
years, his account of what he did in 1836, and what he saw, is worth quoting at some length,
In a letter written in September 1853, Fisher said: "Returning by an angle across the country, we
made Corio (Geelong}, where we were struck with the magnificent scene which burst upon our
view as we reached the rise, now the centre of the town, known as Church Hill. The splendour
and magnitude of Corio
106
Bay, the gentle rise from the bay to where we stood, about three-quarters of a mile, and the like
gentle fall to the River Barwon, the You Yangs, Station Peak, the Barraboo! Hills, with aU the
varied scenery of hill and vale around clothed in the beautiful verdure of nature, seemed to
proclaim this spot as the site of a great mercantile city. Lost in contemplation, we were
overtaken by night, and had the satisfaction of finding the shelter of a gum-tree near the place
now called "La Trobe Terrace"; here we camped for the night. Next morning we made Messrs
Cowie and Stead's, where we were entertained with a comfortable breakfast, and likewise got
our provision bags replenished. We then crossed the Moorabool River, and afterwards the
Barwon at the place now known as Pollock's Ford; we tethered our horses in the valley and
walked to the top of Mount Moriac, from which elevated spot we had a beautiful prospect of
this delightful district, and with the assistance of a good telescope we were able to trace the
various windings of the Rivers Leigh and Barwon; also from this mount we had another view of
beautiful Corio and its lovely bay. in imagination we could picture a splendid city, with the bay
covered with ships of ail nations, which fancies I have lived to see in part realized.
'Having taken our bearings, we descended to where we left our horses, and there we encamped
for the night, and next morning started across the country and made the River Leigh at its
junction with the Barwon, where I afterwards formed my home-station. We then followed up
the Leigh River for about six miles, to the place where Mr Russell's station now is; here we
crossed the country in a direct line towards the Anakie Hills until we came to the Moorabool
River, where we halted for the night, in the morning we ascended the highest of these hills, from
which we had a most magnificent view of nearly all the hills, valleys, creeks, and rivers
comprised within that portion of the country, now the County of Grant. Next morning we
started for Doutta Galla (Melbourne), intending to return to Van Diemen's Land; but finding that
our ship had sailed we had to content ourseives until her return...
'Being now satisfied that sheep farming would prove a profitable speculation in the New Land,
as Port Phillip was then called in Van Diemen's Land, we entered into a co-partnership to carry
it out extensively. In this we were joined by Messrs Swanston, Mercer, and Learmonth, and
purchased up the shares and interest of the Van Diemen's Land Association. We took the style
and title of the "Derwent Company."
'In the latter end of the year 1836 i returned to Port Phillip for the purpose of forming the
different stations, afterwards occupied by the Derwent Co, and pitched my tent at the south side
of Geelong, on the north bank of the Barwon River, near where a bridge was built
communicating with the Western District. Here I built the first house in Geelong worthy of the
 |