Document information

Physical location:

Unit 750, VPRS 44/P inward registered and unregistered correspondence, VA 538 Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Public Record Office, Victoria. 72.11.29

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to James Casey, 1872-11-29. 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/1870-9/1872/72-11-29-final.odt>, accessed May 10, 2026

1
In a note dated 30 (!) November 1872, J. W. Stephen, Temple Ct, wrote to Casey: 'The Children's Hospital Committee have had the offer of an open air concert for their benefit if permission can be granted for the use of the Botanical Gardens for tomorrow Saturday week (the 7th of Dec) Can this be done and will you if possible send an answer today Mrs Stephen will call in the afternoon at the C. Lands Office to see if there is one'. Casey asked on 29 November: 'Will the Govt Botanist say whether he is aware of any objection to the granting of this request'.
Melbourne bot Garden,
29/11/72.
Honorable Sir,
There can be no objection to holding the proposed Concert at the bot Garden, for the benefit of the Childrens Hospital. I anticipate, that payment of a small entrance sum, perhaps 1/ for each adult visitor and 6d for each child will be expected to be raised. This was the case, when formerly the Ministerial Chiefs granted the use of the garden for the benefit of any charity or other public object. To overcome any legal difficulty to obtain the payment from visitors, we have never enforced it from any one, who may happen to object.
2
On 29 November, J. [Lesey], Secretary to the Minister of Lands, replied to Stephen: 'The Hon Mr Casey directs me to inform you that he will be very pleased to grant permission. He begs however to refer you to the attached note from Dr Mueller as to the obtaining payment for admission. Mr Casey thinks this difficulty might be got over by a regulation under 108th Sec of Land Act and directs me to state that if you would kindly draft one he would have it approved by the Board of Land & Works in time for the proposed concert'. Stephen responded on 6 December: 'I think it is extremely doubtful whether an order can be made under Sec 108 of no 360 for the purpose of imposing a charge for admission I think it will be safer and better to adopt the usual course indicated in Dr Mueller's letter'.
About 1200 people attended the concert on Saturday afternoon, 7 December, with £58 5s taken at the gates (Age (Melbourne), 9 December 1872, p. 2). It was announced in the Melbourne press on 2 December; later detailed advertisements listed 'Admission One Shilling, Children Half price'.
Very respectfully
Ferd. von Mueller.