Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne, 14 May 1888.

The honorable Alfr. Deakin, M.L.C.,

Chief Secretary.

Sir.

In continuation of a former suggestion of mine

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M to A. Deakin, 7 November 1887.

I have the honor to draw attention again, now when the estimates of the forthcoming finance-year are formed, to the desirability of a special hall being built at the rear of the public Library for the reception of all the rural and technologic and forestral products, now scattered through the general technologic Museum and lately gathered on the galleries of the Exhibition-Building. This becomes all the more urgent now, as the Centennial Exhibition

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Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888-9.

is sure to afford vast addition at its termination to the already large collections of vegetable products and educts, stored in the technologic Museum, which articles however need for proper display as a compact whole a large room of their own with sufficient spare space for future additions. For this purpose no locality would in my opinion be better adapted, than the still vacant area behind the Building of the great Library here, where the litterary treasures would in the Centre of the Metropolis be close at hand to busy artisans, manufacturers, traders and others, practically interested in a technologic-botanic Museum, and where also a laboratory already exists for experiments and chemical analysis. My letter to you as the honorable the Chief Secretary, above alluded to, was dated and forwarded on the 7. Nov. 1887.

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On 22 May 1888, H. Moors, for the Under Secretary, forwarded to the Premier M's letter and the previous correspondence referred to, 'relative to the deputation from the Public Library Trustees tomorrow'. The file was returned from the Premier's Department on 23 April 1890.

The deputation led by the Vice - President of Trustees, Edward Langton, presented a detailed memorandum of the Trustees ' proposals to Duncan Gilles, the Premier and Treasurer. Gilles commented that he observed that the Botanical Museum suggested by Baron von Mueller was not included in the scheme. That proposal had the support of several members of Parliament'. Langton 'thought that the T rustees would be only too glad to include the Botanical Museum. It seemed to be a natural ally to the Technological Museum.' Gilles responded that 'he would give the matter his attention, and see what could be done' ( Argus , 24 May 1888, p. 9). Funds for extensions were provided by selling Government suburban land at Kew Asylum and Yarra Bend for this and other government building projects ( Victoria, Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Council , session 1891, vol. 1 , p. 253) . The new building, including new galleries and space for the Industrial and Technological Museum, was completed by 1893 : 'The old technological museum will be overhauled and refitted as a separate museum of economic botany, as well as affording space for the lending library' ('The Public Library. Opening of new wing' , Argus , 11 March 1893, p. 9).