Colonial Office Circular, 3 February 1829

COLONIAL OFFICE CIRCULAR

Information for the use of those who may
propose to embark as Settlers for the new
Settlement in Western Australia—

1st — His Majesty's Government do not intend to incur any expense in conveying Settlers to the New Colony on the Swan River, and will not feel bound to defray the expense of supplying them with provisions or other necessaries after their arrival there, nor to assist their removal to England or any other place should they be desirous of quitting the Colony —

2nd — Such persons as may arrive in that Settlement before the end of the year 1830 will receive, in the order of their arrival, allotments of Land, free of Quit Rent, proportioned to the Capital which they may be prepared to invest in the improvement of the land, and of which capital they may be able to produce satisfactory proofs to the Lieutenant Governor (or other Officer administering the Colonial Government) or any two officers of the Local Government appointed by the Lieutenant Governor for that purpose, at the rate of 40 acres for every sum of £3 which they may be prepared to invest —

3rd — Under the Head of investment of Capital will be considered Stock of every description, all implements of Husbandry, and other articles which may be applicable to the purposes of productive industry, or which may be necessary for the establishment of the Settler on the Land where he may be located — The amount of any half pay or pension which the applicant may receive from Government, and which he may be prepared to invest as before mentioned, will also be considered as so much Capital —

4th — Those who may incur the expense of taking out labouring persons will be entitled to an allotment of Land at the rate of £15, that is, of 200 acres of Land for every such labouring person, over and above any other investment of Capital — In the class of "Labouring Persons" are including Women, and children above 10 years of age — With respect to the children of labouring people under that age, it is proposed to allow 40 acres for every such child above 3 years old, — 80 acres for every such child above 6 years old, — and 120 for every such child above 9 and under 10 years old. — Provision will be made by law at the earliest opportunity, for rendering those Capitalists who may be engaged in taking out labouring Persons to this Settlement liable for the future maintenance of those persons, should they from infirmity or any other cause, become unable to maintain themselves there —

5th — The licence to occupy will be given to the Settler, on satisfactory proof being exhibited to the Lieutenant Governor (or other Officer administering the Government) of the amount of property brought into the Colony as above specified — The proofs required of this property will be such satisfactory vouchers of Expenses as would be received in auditing Public Accounts — But the Title to the land will not be granted in Fee Simple until the Settler has proved to the satisfaction of the Lieutenant Governor (or other Officer administering the Local Government) that the sum required by article 2nd (viz. 1/6 per acre) has been actually expended in some investment of the Nature Specified in Article 3rd, or in the cultivation of the Land, or in solid Improvements, — such as Buildings, Roads, or other works of that kind —

6th — Any land thus allotted, of which at least one fourth shall not have been brought into cultivation or othrwise improved to the satisfaction of the Local Government, within three years from the date of the licence of occupation, shall at the end of three years be liable to one further payment of 6 pence per acre for all the land not so cultivated or improved, into the Public Chest of the Settlement, and at the expiration of seven years more, so much of the whole grant as shall still remain in an uncultivated state, will revert absolutely to the Crown. — And in every Grant will be contained a condition that at any time, within ten years from the date thereof, the Government may resume without compensation, any land not then actually cultivated or improved as before mentioned, which may be required for Roads, Canals, or Quays, or for the site of Public Buildings —

7th — After the year 1830, Land will be disposed of to those Settlers who may resort to the Colony, on such conditions as His Majesty's Government shall determine —

8th — It is not intended that any convicts be transported to this New Settlement —

9th — The Government will be administered by Captain Stirling of the Royal Navy, and it is proposed that a Bill shall be submitted to Parliament in the course of the next Session to make provision for its Civil and Judicial Administration —

COLONIAL OFFICE — DOWNING STREET
3rd February, 1829