From Williamstown Council to Ferdinand von Mueller   [Feb 1896]

'Short Road' incorporated a ferry across the Yarra river between Williamstown and Port Melbourne but the tracks to the ferry landings were in disrepair, with drifting sand. The newspaper text on this item of business began:

The committee reported that they have considered the report of the surveyor on the repair of the Short Road, and have sent copies of the same to the Government and the Port Melbourne Council. On the subject of overcoming the same [typesetter's error for sand?] difficulty, Cr. Peel has visited Port Fairy and there received valuable information and courtesy from His Worship the Mayor, and officers of the Council, on the subject of planting and cultivating the marram grass. Mr Champion also interviewed the Government Botanist, Baron Von Mueller F.R.S. &c. on the same subject and was most courteously received.

The report was adopted. The project was undertaken and the approaches made into formed roads, and formally opened on 19 May 1897, with the works incorporating about 30 acres (c. 12 hectare) 'fenced in and sown down with marram grass on the recommendation of the late Baron von Mueller' ('Williamstown Short Road', Leader (Melbourne), 22 May 1897, p. 24).

Henry Vine Champion (1859 -1918), surveyor for the Council.

Letter not found. The text given here is from the report of the discussion of the Short Road Committee at the meeting of the Council held on 11 February 1896 (Williamstown chronicle, 15 February 1896, p. 3).