Unpopular name all over our map

The name Latrobe, or La Trobe, appears all over the Victorian map.

There are streets, a suburb, a university, mountains and even one of the main rivers in Gippsland all bearing the name of Charles Joseph La Trobe, first Governor of Victoria. (He was really a Lieutenant-Governor.)

It is surprising, then, to realise that La Trobe was almost universally unpopular in the colony of Victoria.

The story of La Trobe and Victoria really began in May, 1836. Sir Richard Bourke, Governor of New South Walesa, heard that certain persons were trespassing on Crown Lands near Port Phillip.

He ordered Richard Stewart, the Police Magistrate at Goulbourn, to investigate.

Stewart reported on June 10, 1836, that a small town called Bearbrass had been established on the banks of the Yarro Yarro River, about seven miles from the mouth of that river on Port Phillip Bay.

Bourke knew that it would be difficult to remove the settlers so he decided to send someone to at least ensure law and order. That man, Captain William Lonsdale, arrived in Port Phillip on September 29, 1836.In all but name he was Victoria's first Governor.

When the colony began to grow, Lonsdale suggested that a Superintendant should be appointed. The Colonial Office agreed and the position was offered to Charles Joseph La Trobe, a man of 38 years, originally trained for the Moravian ministry.

He had completed a well-received report on the education of the emancipated negroes of the West Indies, so the British Government thought that he might be just the man to deal with the aborigines.

Latrobe (or La Trobe) was proclaimed Superintendent of the Settlement and the District of Port Phillip on September 11, 1839. He arrived aboard HMS Pyramus on September 30, but did not land until October 2 because of the rain. This was not a very auspicious start.

He was rowed up the Yarra in an eight-oared cutter and then escorted by the townspeople to a two-story building on the corner of William and Collins Streets. The building was crowded with settlers in wet oilskins and muddy boots.

They saw Latrobe as the man who would deliver them from the tyranny of rule from Sydney.

The settlers probably had a legitimate grievance, because most of the revenue being raised in Port Phillip was being spent in Sydney, mainly on harbour improvements. Of 362,000 pounds raised in Port Phillip, 158,000 was spent on public works in Sydney.

They soon realised Latrobe was no angel of mercy. He delivered a semi-religious sermon to the wet and muddy settlers who were waiting to hear words of hope for their pocketbooks.

The colonists fought for separation from New South Wales but La Trobe secretly opposed their wishes and reported that they were not capable of self-government. These despatches came to light and an angry meeting of 3000 citizens demanded his dismissal.

The Colonial Office disagreed with La Trobe and on August 1, 1850, Victoria was separated from New South Wales. Charles Joseph La Trobe was appointed a Lieutenant - Governor, much to the annoyance of the populace.

In 1854 the Colonial Office ignored another La Trobe dispatch and he, aware of the snub and wearying of his battles with the settlers, tendered his resignation, and this was very speedily accepted.

His conflict with the settlers arose from a number of basic differences. He was a student of the arts and of botany. A gentle, serious man, he was not in tune with the rough and boisterous nature of the settlers.

Unfortunately for him, he also allowed his feelings of sympathy for the Aborigines to affect his judgements and many settlers felt that he was giving the Aborigines more attention than he was giving the whites.

He was not a hospitable man, simply because he could not afford to be. His salary was only 800 pounds when he was Superintendent and 1500 pounds when he was Lieutenant - Governor. There was no official residence provided.

In 1865, La Trobe became blind. He died at Littlington, Sussex, on December 2, 1875.

He was unpopular for favouring the Aborigines, for his opposing separation, for his aloof manner, for his resistance to opening up of the land and for his opposing the development of the goldfields.

On the other hand, he reserved most of Melbourne's parklands and wide streets. He obtained the Act of Incorporation of Melbourne. He was one of the main movers for the Public Library, Melbourne University and the Yan Yean water supply.

Finally, his name should really be spelt "La Trobe" and not as is now usual "Latrobe".