Document information

Physical location:

Cons 5000, SDUR/G4/325C, unregistered letters from settlers, Lands and Survey Office, State Records Office of Western Australia, Perth. 77.06.02

Preferred Citation:

Ernest Giles to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1877-06-02. 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/1870-9/1877/77-06-02-final.odt>, accessed June 15, 2026

1
The cover sheet has: 'Ernest Giles Esq | & | Baron F. von Mueller | Agreement for Sale | Received a memorial of the written agreement for registration at 12.45 p.m. on 10th July 1877 and registered the same, Book 7 No 2511 | Lawrence S. Eliot'.
A memorial to be registered of a paper writing of which the following is a copy
Duplicate
2
A duplicate of this letter is annotated: ' 2511 | Received of Chas G. H. Cooper Law Clerk Perth at 12.45 p.m. on 10th July 1877 and registered in Book 7 No 2511 — | Lawrence S. Eliot | Registrar of Deeds.' (book 7, no. 2511, Titles Office, Perth). The title that was issued to Giles is attached to this copy.
Melbourne
2nd June 1877
To Baron Ferdinand von Mueller CMG
Melbourne
I hereby agree to transfer and by this document do transfer all my right title and interest in and to a grant of 2000 acres of Land granted to me in Western Australia by the Secretary of State for the Colonies and which His Excellency Governor Robinson's letter attached to the original of this declares I am entitled to
3
William C. Robinson's letter is dated 'Perth 20 Jan 1877' and includes: 'I have the great pleasure to inform you that I have received a Despatch from Lord Carnarvon authorising me to make you a moderate grant of Land in acknowledgement of the service which by your Explorations you have rendered to Western Australia.' Carnarvon did not specify how much land but 'from the tenor of his despatch' and after consideration, 2000 acres had been decided on (SDUR/G4/325E, State Records Office of WA).
in consideration of having already received the sum of Eight Hundred pounds sterling (£800.0.0) being the price agreed to be paid to me by Baron von Mueller for the Land in question.
(signed) Ernest Giles
4
In a letter to J. Forrest on the same day, quoted in full in M. Fraser to [R. Goldsworthy], 20 April 1878 (in this edition as M78-04-20), Giles accepted Forrest's offer to identify a suitable piece of land for him, which should then be transferred to M. Forrest chose 2000 acres on the 'upper Ferguson' and asked that if possible the grant be made direct to M, commenting that 'I think the colony is fortunate in getting so eminent a man as The Baron von Mueller to be a land owner & most probably ultimately a settler' (J. Forrest to Commissioner of Crown Lands, 5 September 1877, SDUR/G4/325A, State Records of WA). A year earlier, M had unsuccessfully sought a free grant of land for himself on Sturt's Creek, WA, in consideration for his having been a member of the North Australian Exploring Expedition, 1855-6. He continued to seek this grant, even while negotiating about Giles's grant. See M to M. Fraser, 7 August 1876 and 1 August 1877. See also M to J. Forrest, 14 February 1878.
C. A. [Graves]
Witness