Batman's Hill
Batman's Hill in
The hill, on the traditional country of the
Your lordship has been fortunate in the lot I chose for you. A more delightful spot, I think, cannot be. Beautiful grass, a pleasant prospect, a fine fresh-water river, and the vessel alongside the bank discharging at musket-shot distance from a pleasant hill where I intend to put your house. The garden will trend to the south by the east side of the hill ... The west side of the hill is a beautiful prospect. A salt lagoon and piece of marsh will make a beautiful meadow and bounded on the south by the river. The hill is composed of rich, black soil, thinly wooded with honeysuckle and she-oak. Good grass, a quantity of herbage that I cannot name more than three, viz., parsley of good flavour, peppermint, as good as any I ever tasted, and geraniums in abundance.[3]
In April 1836 the hill was settled by Batman and his family, who built a house at the base where Batman lived until his death in 1839.[4] His widow and family then moved from the house and the government requisitioned the house for government offices.[5]
In 1837, the Hoddle Grid, the first town plan was designed with Batman's Hill as its western boundary.
The hill had many other uses, in February 1839 it acted as a
In 1853 the Victorian Government offered a concession to the
The site now forms the eastern border of the Docklands (a precinct of the Docklands development is also named Batman's Hill) and is dominated by Southern Cross station and the Collins Street bridge built in 2002 to replicate the original curve and shape of the hill.[9]
A significant portion of Batman's Hill is now being developed by the Walker Group as a commercial office precinct called Collins Square.
A 1920s hotel, the Batman's Hill Hotel was named after Batman's Hill.
Survey datum
- Swan Street, Riversdale Road and Somerville Road are on the east–west section line that passes through the datum.
- Victoria Street and Barkers Road run east–west one mile to the north
- Alexandra Parade and Racecourse Road run east–west two miles to the north
- Royal Parade and Sydney Road run north–south along the section line passing through the datum.
- Hoddle Street runs north–south two miles to the east
- Springvale Road runs north–south twelve miles to the east
References
- ^ Noè Harsel, Masters by research: The Shepherd Kings
- ^ Society for Environmental Graphic Design - Merit Award: Melbourne Docklands Archived July 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ cited in Greig, AW. 'Some new documentary evidence concerning the foundation of Melbourne'. Victorian Historical Journal 12, 1928, 114
- ^ Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition: Batman, John (1801 - 1839)
- ^ a b c d Sid Brown (November 2002). "Batman's Hill to Southern Cross - via Spencer Street". Newsrail: 335–347.
- ^ MCC. "The first 50 years of the MCC". Alf Batchelder. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- ^ Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition: Zeal, Sir William Austin (1830 - 1912)
- ^ "Goods Shed No 2 OnMyDoorstep". Archived from the original on 2014-03-01. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
- ^ Melbourne Docklands: Bridges (via Archive.org)
- ISBN 1-74097-019-5.