Post-Office, a Court-House, or some other public purpose, but the Wesleyan Methodist denomination ultimately obtained it from the Government. When the value of the land had enormously increased, the Wesleyans deemed it advisable to sell out there, and invest the proceeds elsewhere. A "ring" of knowing ones was formed, and the premises were purchased for £40,000, in the hope of making a handsome thing of it; but the "swim" did not turn out so prosperously as expected.
The opposite or north-eastern corner half-acre was purchased for £61 by Mr. G. W. Umpleby, and here was opened the first druggist's shop by Dr. Barry Cotter. It was succeeded by an hotel somewhat misnamed the Angel Inn, attached to which was Melbourne's first billiard room. Crossing the street to the south-east corner, bought by Mr. A. Willis for £42, we come on a place wherein it would appear the money changers were destined to abide. It was here the first agency of the Derwent Bank was started under the management of Mr. W. F. A. Rucker in 1838. It was afterwards taken over by the Union Bank started at the north-west corner of Queen and Little Flinders Streets, where the first regular banking house was put up. When the Union required more central premises, it returned to the old place, where an edifice was erected which for years was deemed one of the architectural ornaments of Melbourne.
The "Nelson" Gold Robbery.
Reverting to the old Union Bank there is an incident connected with its career, which, until now, may be numbered amongst the "lost secrets of history." It was a plain two-storey brick structure, with little in its build to liken it to the fortresses in which bank deposits are now stored. Immediately after its vacation by the bill discounters it was let for a public-house, and for years was known as the Woolpack Inn. In 1852 an audacious robbery was perpetrated on board the gold ship "Nelson" in Hobson's Bay, and it was in this tavern the outrage was concocted and elaborated. One night in April of that year a gang of seven or eight desperadoes took boat at Sandridge, and quietly boarded the "Nelson," ready to sail with a quantity of gold for England the next day. The very audacity of the raid ensured its success, for the possibility of such a robbery was unthought of. Half-a-dozen persons were afterwards convicted of the offence, and served long sentences of hard labour on board the hulks of Williamstown and Pentridge. A gentleman of the legal profession, than whom no one in the colony had better opportunity of knowing, assured me that in after years the ringleader had effected his escape from Victoria, and was never brought to book, and that two of the convicts were absolutely innocent of the offence. I had it also on reliable police authority that the gang who rifled the "Nelson" intended to have operated on the "Madagascar," which was anchored near the "Nelson," with 120,000 ozs. of gold, and was ready for sea; that the night was very dark and the robbers boarded the wrong ship, when finding out their mistake they resolved to make the best of it, and tackle what came next to hand, so their booty amounted only 14,000 ozs. This gold was stowed away in fourteen small strongly-made wooden boxes, of 1000 ozs. each. The robbers had some difficulty in secreting the spoil, and I myself recollect going to Sandridge the Sunday after the robbery, and seeing a crowd of persons in the bush between Emerald Hill and the beach. Approaching I found a party of police in possession of several of the empty boxes, which had been found under a large gum tree. Being known to the Chief Constable (Bloomfield), I was presented with one of the boxes, and I kept it as a sort of relic for several years. The Attorney, who incurred great trouble and expense in the defence of the prisoners, was said to have received another box (but a full one) in reimbursement of all he had done or undergone; and, if so, he certainly came off best of anyone mixed up with the affair.[1]
- ↑ The following communication was subsequently received from Mr. Albert Read, Solicitor: "It is a pleasure to read 'Garryowen's' papers, generally correct and always amusing, but in his statements regarding the robbery of the ship "Nelson" he has been misled. The ship "Madagascar" was not anchored near the "Nelson", with 120,000 oz. of gold on board, and ready for sea on the night of the "Nelson" robbery. The "Madagascar" was afterwards in the Bay, and was the ship in which the escort robbers were arrested. After leaving the Bay this ship was never heard of. With regard to the number of the "Nelson" robbers, and the statement that the boat used came from Sandridge, he is incorrect. Having defended most of the men charged with the robbery, some of whom were found guilty, I presume I am the Attorney referred to by 'Garryowen', who incurred great trouble and expense in the defence of the prisoners, and was said to have received another box (but a full one) in re-imbursement of all he had done or undergone; and if so, he certainly came off hest of anyone mixed up in the affair. I beg to tell 'Garryowen' if he, as he stated, received a box, although an empty one, he had the best of it, for I never had one of the boxes, or had ever seen any of the gold.
