He was educated at the Newark grammar school, and at 14, studied for the medical profession at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London but did not become a doctor.
[4] In 1831, Bland was appointed by the Governor James Stirling to settle the York district, about 110 kilometres (70 mi) from Perth on the Avon River and to establish a stockyard there.
[5] Bland was a member of the first party of settlers to journey to the Avon Valley that set off on 6 September 1831, and he selected a place 3.2 kilometres (2 mi) south of Mt Bakewell near a broad reach of the river.
[6][a] As instructed by Stirling, Bland established the government farm 450 metres (1,480 ft) to the west of the Avon River ford.
[10] In September 1834, the Perth Gazette reported:[11] The success which has attended Messrs Bland and Trimmer’s flock of Sheep at York, has created a general desire to enter upon this lucrative speculation, and many of our Settlers on the Swan, who have the means, as well as some few residents in the towns, are making preparations to remove to their larger grants over the hills, where an unlimited run for the flocks, and a soil adapted for agricultural purposes generally awaits them.
On his return, accompanied by Bland, when about 7 miles from their home at York, "they observed a native in the bush in the act of raising his spear, and shortly afterwards, a known signal being given, a party of about twelve rushed forward from the place of their concealment; but both Mr Trimmer and Mr Bland being apprised of their danger by the signal given, put spurs to their horses, and galloped about three miles, by which means they avoided their hostile assailants.
[20] In 1838, aged 26, Bland married Emily Sultizer (sometimes Lutzen)[1] and around this time built "a very pleasant dwelling house" to live in at Balladong Farm.
He was recommended for the job by Governor John Hutt who described Bland's "thorough knowledge of the native character, acquaintance with their languages, great firmness combined with mildness of temper, long experience as a Magistrate and a high reputation for integrity and respectability, which gives him considerable influence among both the Colonists and the native population in the York district".
[3] Bland had been suffering from eye trouble for some time, and in 1842, Dr Harris (Colonial Surgeon) advised him to take 18 months leave and return to England for treatment.
[26][2]: 115 Historian John Deacon said of Bland as government resident for 8 years: During that period he had proved himself to be a man of sterling qualities, carrying on the onereous duties of magistrate in a pioneer settlement with distinction and success.
His letters reveal that he possessed those qualities which make for leadership; while he resided in York he had the esteem of both the settlers and the Government, and at all times he had dispensed justice with an impartial hand.
[28] On 6 February 1848, Governor Charles Fitzgerald appointed Bland as personal secretary and Clerk of the Council in place of Walkinshaw Cowan.
Towards the end of 1848 he accompanied Fitzgerald on an expedition to Champion Bay, for the purpose of examining a lode of galena, discovered on the Murchison River by Augustus Charles Gregory.
The discovery was verified, but on the return journey Fitzgerald was speared in the leg by some Aboriginal people, and Bland had a narrow escape.
[3] In 1852 he was appointed resident director of the Port Phillip and Colonial Gold Mining Company, and arrived in Melbourne towards the end of that year.