66 Russell St Melb
2 Apl 1890
To Baron Von Mueller
Dear Sir
Can I solicit your assistance in endeavouring to preserve some of the naturel beauty spots of Victoria, particularly those of the Otway Forest and along the Coast.
Would it not be as well to have all the Gullies and creeks running into the sea along the coast from Lorne to Cape Otway reserved for Public use by having a road of 2 chains wide on both sides of the creek or gully reserved from selection
By doing this we could preserve the Fern Tree Gullies and retard the vandalism (I can use no other term) of cutting down the fern trees, and destroying some of the most beautiful naturel spots in Victoria for a few acres of grass, which afterwards may or may not grow.
I am not aware of any clause in a selectors lease which prohibits the even total destruction of such spots.
I have taken the liberty of calling your attention to this matter and hope that by your influence something may be done to preserve some of our beauty spots for the coming generation1
I Remain
Yours faithfully
Rich. Heath.
M forwarded Heath's letter to the Secretary of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria with M to F. Barnard, 4 April 1890 (in this edition as 90-04-04b).
Please cite as “FVM-90-04-02a,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on