The Dream of British Civilization in Australia
In 1838, the fledgling settlement of Port Phillip (later Melbourne) was gripped by a fervent ambition: to transplant British civilization onto the southern coast of New Holland (Australia). European settlers, missionaries, and colonial officials saw themselves as agents of progress, tasked with reshaping both the land and its Indigenous inhabitants into a reflection of England.
The Melbourne Advertiser, the colony’s first handwritten newspaper, urged “adventurous Port Phillipians” to make their mark on the “Chart of advancing Civilization” as “Sons of Britain.” Meanwhile, Bishop William Grant Broughton of Australia preached that the Church of England was not just a spiritual guide but a bulwark against “Romish superstition” and unbelief. The settlers believed they were bringing order, Christianity, and industry to a land they saw as untouched by human improvement.
The Clash of Cultures: Indigenous Resistance and Colonial Failure
Despite these lofty aspirations, reality proved far more complex. The British settlers aimed to transform Aboriginal Australians into “English gentlemen,” but their efforts met with profound resistance. A House of Commons committee in 1837 had already concluded that European contact had worsened the plight of Indigenous Australians, leading to population decline and cultural disintegration.
In response, the British government appointed George Augustus Robinson as Chief Protector of Aborigines, supported by four assistant protectors. Their mission was to “civilize” Indigenous communities by teaching agriculture, Christianity, and settled habits. Yet, as Robinson himself lamented, Indigenous people often rejected these impositions, clinging to their traditional ways even as their lands were taken and their societies disrupted.
The Protectorate Experiment: Hope and Disillusionment
The assistant protectors—Edward Stone Parker, James Dredge, William Thomas, and Charles Sievewright—ventured into the bush, attempting to mediate between settlers and Indigenous groups. Parker established a mission at Jackson’s Creek, while Thomas worked at Narre Warren, hoping to convert Aboriginal people to Christianity and farming.
However, their efforts were undermined by settler hostility, government indifference, and the deep cultural divide. Sievewright, in particular, became a scandal, accused of moral failings and neglecting his duties. Meanwhile, Indigenous communities, displaced from their lands and facing starvation, often retaliated against settlers, leading to violent clashes.
The Legacy of a Failed Vision
By the 1840s, it was clear that the dream of a fully Anglicized Port Phillip was faltering. Missionaries like Francis Tuckfield admitted defeat, and Indigenous populations continued to suffer from disease, dispossession, and violence. The settlers, frustrated by the lack of progress, increasingly saw Indigenous people as obstacles to be removed rather than souls to be saved.
Yet, the ambition to create a British society in Australia endured. Melbourne grew rapidly, its streets lined with churches, banks, and businesses, while squatters expanded their pastoral empires. The settlers clung to their identity as “Sons of Britain,” even as the land and its original inhabitants resisted their vision.
Conclusion: A Contested Inheritance
The story of Port Phillip in the 1830s and 1840s is one of ambition, conflict, and unintended consequences. The settlers’ dream of a “civilized” colony clashed with Indigenous resilience and the harsh realities of colonization. While Melbourne would eventually flourish as a British outpost, the cost to Aboriginal Australians was devastating.
Today, this history serves as a reminder of the complexities of colonization—the clash between idealism and exploitation, and the enduring struggle for justice and recognition. The echoes of this era still resonate, challenging us to reckon with Australia’s colonial past and its legacy for the future.