Port Phillip District

In September 1836, NSW Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleay declared Captain William Lonsdale the "Police Magistrate" of "the location of Settlers on the vacant Crown Lands adjacent to the shores of Port Phillip."

[4] After extensive opposition in Sydney, including from the Legislative Council, thoughts about the bounds of the district that should be administered from Melbourne were retracted south to follow the Murray River alone.

[7][9] On 30 July 1842, "An Act for the Government of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land" was passed, which defined electorates within those colonies.

"[10] In January 1843, it was announced that the Town of Melbourne would have 1 representative in the soon-to-be formed NSW Parliament, while the remainder of the District of Port Phillip would have 5.

[12] On 28 February 1843, Governor Gipps proclaimed that the "Southern or Port Phillip District" for land disposal would now be defined as being the Counties of Bourke (Melbourne), Grant (Geelong) and Normanby (Portland).