Biographical entry Anderson, Samuel (1803 - 1863)

Summary

Samuel Anderson worked as a journalist in London before migrating to Australia in 1834. The following year he sailed to the eastern shores of Western Port Bay, then the centre of a thriving bark trade. With his partner, R. Massie, he began an agricultural settlement on the Bass River. They established a flour-mill, salt-works and an orchard. Anderson made a number of exploratory journeys and discovered the Tarwin River and Anderson's Inlet. At Cape Patterson in 1837 he found an important outcrop of coal which attracted miners to the area; near-by Wonthaggi later became one of the principal coalfields in Victoria.
In 1838 Anderson and Massie held a pastoral licence for the land between Griffith's Point (San Remo) and Old Settlement Point (Corinella). However, they concentrated exclusively on growing wheat which, at 23s. A bushel, realised some £1400 in 1839.

Samuel died at San Remo in 1863 and was commemorated as the pioneer settler of Western Port.

Details

Events

1834

Life event - Arrived in Van Diemen's Land

1835

Career position - Sailed to the eastern shores of Western Port Bay

1837

Career position - Discovered coal at Cape Patterson

Published resources

Book Sections

• Gunson, Niel, 'Anderson, Samuel (1803-1863)', in Douglas Pike (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 1, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1966, pp. 14-15. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010017b.htm. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Anderson, Samuel', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1467828. Details