The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 8 September 1870. ¶ Sir, ¶ ¶ In accordance with instructions received from the Trustees of the Royal Park at a meeting held yesterday I have the honor of transmitting to you the bye-following stateme...

Document information

Physical location:

W70/20846, unit 18, VPRS 242 crown reserves correspondence files, VA 538 Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Public Record Office, Victoria. 70.09.08

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to John MacPherson, 1870-09-08. 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/1870-9/1870/70-09-08-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

8 September 1870.

Sir,

In accordance with instructions received from the Trustees of the Royal Park at a meeting held yesterday I have the honor of transmitting to you the bye-following statement in reference to the necessity of new fences at the Park; also a new code of regulations which the Trustees recommend to be substituted for those formerly in force at the Park.

I have the honor to be

Sir

Your obedient servant

Ferd. von Mueller, M.D.

Hon. Secr. to Trustees.

The Honorable

J. A. Macpherson

President of the Board of Land & Works

Statement of the Trustees of the Royal Park in reference to the fences, to the Honorable the President of the Board of Land & Works.

We beg to bring the following brief statement of facts under your notice. Your honorable predecessor Mr. Grant, when President of the Board of Land and Works, caused a portion of the Royal Park to be sold, although the Park is vested in us as Trustees for zoological purposes. The portion thus alienated consists of the whole frontage to the Sydney road and is by far the most valuable portion of the whole reserve.

The Government has, we find, not only sold the land, but has also sold our fence, and consequently the Park is injured greatly for the purposes for which it was conserved, as we no longer have the power to prevent the fence being pulled down and taken away. We are now erecting a new fence on the south or Flemington boundary, but this will be of little avail so long as the East and West line running parallel with the Sydney road is allowed to remain in its present condition. We would respectfully but earnestly press upon you the necessity for erecting a new fence on our present Eastern boundary in place of the fence we have so lost.

We feel ourselves placed in an embarrassing position with regard to the action of the Government in this matter, and we trust you will think with us, that we are only asking that which ought as a matter of justice to be conceded.

By order of the trustees

Ferd. von Mueller, M.D.

Hon. Secr.

On 10 September 1870 the Assistant Commissioner for Crown Lands and Survey, C. Hodgkinson, recommended: 'that the trustees be informed that, in the opinion of the Bd of L & W, the cost of new fencing should be defrayed out of the grant from time to time made by Parliament to the Acclimatization Society — The trustees or the Acclimatization Society could prepare an estimate of the cost of a new fence on the east side of the Park, and in applying for a grant in aid of the Acclimatization Society for 1871, mention the amount required for the fencing.'

The estimates for 1871/2 included a grant of £1000 to the Acclimatization Society, but no specific purposes were mentioned (Victoria Parliamentary Paper, 1871, B 2, p.19). This was the same amount that was granted for 1870 (Victoria Parliamentary Paper,1870, B2, p. 17).

9/9/70.