Document information

Physical location:

No. 1217, unit 189, VPRS 3181/P Town Clerk's file series 1, VA 511 Melbourne, Public Record Office, Victoria. 65.12.08

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Edmund FitzGibbon, 1865-12-08. 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/1860-9/1865/65-12-08-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
MS annotated: 'Employment'.
Melbourne bot. Garden,
8/12/65
Dear Mr Fitzgibbon
Allow me to introduce to your favorable notice Capt Keene,
2
A. W. Keen, received compensation for loss of office as officer in charge of Cutter, Westernp or t ( Civil establishment of the colony of Victoria for the year 1864 , Parliamentary paper, 1864-5, no, 46, p. 44, note d ) . (Name given as A. W. Keene in some newspaper reports of meeetings of the Aclimatisation Society , e.g. Argus , 11 February, 1864, p. 6 . )
who for a long time has been stationed in command of the Gov. vessel at Western-port until the Station was abandoned. The Captain is very intelligent & has watched carefully the fishes of these seas. He is now anxious to become Inspector of the fish-market, and a more practical man you could not solicit for the office.
As undoubtedly you will cause the candidates to be examined I believe you will be satisfied with Capt. Keenes practical Knowledge for the office.
With most friendly regards
your
Ferd. Mueller
3
The City Council erected a new fish-market at the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets, Melbourne, and at the meeting of the Council on 4 December the Town Clerk was instructed to invite applications for the position of keeper of the market ( Argus , 5 December 1865, p. 6). The position was advertised in the Melbourne press from 6 December ( for example , Argus , 6 December 1865, p. 1 ) , with reinsertions until the closing date of 11 December. The advertisement invited applications : 'The person to be appointed must be a married man, will be required to reside with his wife upon the premises and must have experience in respect to the species, condition, and sale of fish'. At its meeting of 22 December , the Council received a report from the Market Committee listing 'Messrs J. G. Newman, Alfred Keen, G. H. Gossbell, Henry Scott and Alfred Ford as candidates eligible for the office of keeper of the Fish Market, … Mr J. G. Newman being considered a peculiarly suitable person for the office' ( Age (Melbourne), 22 December 1865, p. 5); Newman was appointed ( Argus , 23 December 1865, p. 6).