From Ferdinand von Mueller to Francis Barnard   1 Sep 1887

Melbourne,

1 Sept. 1887

F. Barnard Esqr,

Hon. Secretary of the Field-Naturalists Club, &c &c

Sir

At a meeting, held yesterday, of the Council of the Vict. branch of the Royal geographic Society of Australia, I was desired by my Colleagues to inform you, in reply to your letter of the 9. Aug.,¹ that the Council gladly supports the views of the Field-Naturalists Club, enunciated by you on its behalf for reservations of areas with their pristine animal- and plant-life at Wilson's promontory;² but my Colleagues point out, that we understand the wishes of the Club to refer to the promontory itself and its vicinity, not to the whole peninsula, as pastural occupation is existing on extensive portions of that ground since nearly 30 years. This seems to be a favorable opportunity also, to submit for favorable consideration to the honorable the Minister of the Lands-Department the desirability, (expressed already by myself, when we waited on the hon. the Minister of the Customs-Department, regarding the tour contemplated [to] King Island), that the most picturesque portions of the "Victorian Switzerland", just rendered accessible in East-Gippsland, ought to be left in their primeval beauty of scenery untouched by inroads of settlements and ought to be permanently reserved as unalienable from the crown, so that also the coming generations may enjoy the undisturbed magnificence of these regions, where in sublime splendor nature unfolds its grandest features, and where amidst Fan-palms 80 feet high, Waratah-trees 40 feet high and a safe home of the Lyre-bird³ and other great forest treasures, all within a days journey from the metropolis, recreation and health might be sought for all future times by crowded masses here and delighted British or foreign tourists

Regardfully your

Ferd von Mueller⁴