The Early History of Melbourne

Kulin nation

The early history of Melbourne always begins with an examination of the fate of the Kulin nation who once occupied the area for over 30,000 years before the European settlers came. The Europeans helped kill off the Kulin nation because the Europeans had diseases that the Kulins had no immunity to, plus the Europeans introduced venereal diseases and abuse of alcohol to these indigenous peoples. In addition, the Europeans maltreated the Kulins.

John Pascoe Fawkner

John Pascoe Fawkner was instrumental at building what we now know as the city of Melbourne. Once the settlement near the Yarra River was founded in August 1835, John Pascoe Fawkner was able to set up the first hotel in Melbourne; founded the first newspaper called the Melbourne Advertiser but which  was closed down because Fawkner had no license; and set up another newspaper known as The Port  Philip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser once he had his formal license.