01 - Personal Recollections of Early Melbourne and Victoria by William Westgarth

Born in Edinburgh in June 1815, John Westgarth was the son of the surveyor-general of customs for Scotland. He received his education at the high schools of Leith and Edinburgh, followed by Dr. Bruce’s school in Newcastle-on-Tyne. After entering the office of G. Young and Company, which was engaged in the Australian trade, Westgarth recognized the immense potential of the new land and decided to emigrate. He arrived in Melbourne in December 1840, a burgeoning town of just a few thousand residents. When the new colony established its legislative council, Westgarth topped the poll for Melbourne. Over the next decade, he engaged in numerous activities that shaped the region. His return to Australia in 1888 was met with warm welcomes, and he participated in the Melbourne International Exhibition parade alongside Mr. Francis Henty, the last surviving founder of Victoria. This visit inspired two significant publications Personal Recollections of Early Melbourne and Victoria in 1888 and Half a Century of Australasian Progress in 1889. Sadly, after returning to Great Britain, Westgarth passed away unexpectedly in Edinburgh on October 28, 1889. He married in 1853 and left behind a widow and two daughters.