The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Ovens-river, ¶ 9th March 1853 ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ I do myself the honor to inform you, for communication to his Excellency the Governor, that I reached Mount Aberdeen in the Buffalo ranges on the 25th of Febr...

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A53/2892, unit 408, VPRS 3991 inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 53.03.09

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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Lonsdale, 1853-03-09. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/53-03-09>, accessed September 11, 2025

Ovens-river,

Vic.

9th March 1853

Sir

I do myself the honor to inform you, for communication to his Excellency the Governor, that I reached Mount Aberdeen in the Buffalo ranges on the 25th of February and that since that time Mr Dallachy and myself have been travelling through this mountains in various directions to examine and collect its botanical productions. We adscended two of the highest points of the ranges, which however yielded not so many new plants as we expected, perhaps because the altitude of the summits exceeds appearently not 4000! The prevalent rocks are Granit and Slate, many Quartz veins were also seen.

I added since my last report from May-days hills

M to W. Lonsdale, 22 February 1853.

nearly 50 species to my Flora of this province; as remarkable amongst them I might record a species of , which for its similarity in flavor and taste to Lemon and some aromatic peculiarity proved to be useful for a wholesome and by no means disagreable tea. The bark leaves and fruits of the

Tasmannia?

I have no doubt form a good surroga[te] for the bark of Tierra del Fuego. The principle ornamental plants are a high , and a surpassing in size and splendour all others of this colony. The other new plants belong to the following genera: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lomatia?

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , [,]

editorial addition.

and an unknown genus of and .

With regard to Phytogeographia I observed a remarkable increase of the myrtaceous order during the later part of our journey.

As the season is already so far advanced and the state of our horses made it impossible to extend our journey to the higher alpine country, Mr Dallachi thought it advisable, to return now in a streight direction homeward, intending to procure like of the new and or some of the other ornamental plants living specimens for the botanic garden, whilst I proceed to Mount Buller alone and thence I will endeavour to return through Gipps land, hoping that this plan will meet with his Excellencys approval.

All those specimens, which have been collected on the way to May-days hill

Now Beechworth, Vic.

have been entrusted to the care of Mr Commisioner Clow,

James Clow.

to be forwarded to his Excellency the Governor.

It remains yet to state, that we met on the Buffaloe ranges Mr Barnett,

Not further identified.

by whom this part of the country is surveyed, and I am only doing justice to this gentleman, when I acknowledge his readiness to guide us to the peak of Mount Aberdeen, the first adscent ever made of this mountain.

I have the honor, Sir, to be

your most obedient and humblest servant

Dr. Ferd Mueller,

Government-botanist

The honorable, the Colonial Secretary.

MS file annotation by Lieut. Governor La Trobe, 22 March 1853: 'a good report Let the authorities at May Day Hill be specially charged to care for the collections & to forward them when safe occasion offers.' The instructions were given by the Assistant Colonial Secretary, L. Gilles, on 24 March 1853 (No. 53/1559, 53/3540, unit 20, p. 199, VPRS 3219, PROV).