The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ In a Valley of the Hamersley range ¶ WA. ¶ ¶ occurs a fan palm on what is called the Mill Stream — about this Palm I should like to have some more information and if you know any settler in that l...

Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 92.03.21a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Dale, 1892-03-21 [92.03.21a]. 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/1890-6/1892/92-03-21a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Letter not found. The text given here was reproduced by Dale in a memorandum to G. Phillips, Commissioner of Police, WA, dated 'Perth April 18th 1892'. The file is marked '639/92' and stamped 'Police Department Chief Office'. MS found in a parcel of Australian Calamus . Dale introduced the text thus: 'Baron Sir Ferd. von Mueller K.C.M.G. writes under date March 21st as follows'.

In a Valley of the Hamersley range

WA.

occurs a fan palm on what is called the Mill Stream — about this Palm I should like to have some more information and if you know any settler in that locality or region you might be able to obtain kindly answers to the following questions.

1Are the leaves while quite young each year copper colored.

2Has the juvenile Palm the leaf [stalk] more spiny than the adult Palm

3Is it found in more then

than?

one valley

4Are the seeds variable in size.

5Are the leaves when fully formed more like a fully expanded fan.

6Could some fresh seeds be obtained as many as can be sent by post.

Dale continued that he did not know of anyone in the area in question who could answer M's questions and asked for help in obtaining the information required. On 21 April 1892, Phillips forwarded Dale's memorandum with a minute: 'Sargeant Beresford is requested to use his best endeavours to obtain the information solicited by Baron von Mueller'. On 13 May 1892, Beresford , Sergeant of Police at Roebourne, WA, forwarded the request to Henry Francis Keep, the Acting Gove rnment Resident at Roeburne. Keep's reply of 10 June was forwarded to Dale on 21 June and he forwarded it to M; see W. Dale to M, 22 June 1892.