The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne bot. Garden, ¶ 11. Sept. 1858. ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ I have the honor to inform you, that a number of bathers assemble every morning on the left bank of the Yarra in the immediate vicinity of this gard...

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Physical location:

Unit 10, VPRS 3621 inward correspondence from Government, VA 511 Melbourne, Public Record Office, Victoria. 58.09.11

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Edmund FitzGibbon, 1858-09-11. 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//letters/1850-9/1858/58-09-11-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Melbourne bot. Garden,

11. Sept. 1858.

Sir

I have the honor to inform you, that a number of bathers assemble every morning on the left bank of the Yarra in the immediate vicinity of this garden, where they are in no way screened against the view of those passing the new footbridge.

I beg therefore to solicit, unless this practice is in accordance with the municipality regulations of Melbourne & the suburbs, that the bathing on the locality mentioned, which has become a matter of public disapprobation, may be supressed.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

your most obedient servant

Ferd. Mueller, M.D.,

Director of the bot. & zool garden.

The town clerk, Melbourne

&c&c&c

See also E. FitzGibbon to M, 25 September 1858 where M is informed that the Health Committee resolved to allow bathing in a secluded spot before 6 a.m. in summer and 7 a.m. in winter.