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Bicentenary of the British Discovery of Port Phillip Print Page 
The plaque commemorates the bicentenary of the British Discovery of Port Phillip in 1802.
On 4 January 1802 LIeutenant John Murray sighted Port Phillip but found the entrance dangerous and decided to survey it later. He charted the east coast of King Island, then returned to Port Phillip on 31 January and sent John Bowen into the bay in a launch to examine it. Murray entered Port Phillip in the Lady Nelson on 14 February and anchored inside. He named various landmarks: Arthur's Seat, Swan Island, Point Paterson and Point Palmer. On 8 March he took possession of Port Phillip, which he named Port King and which King renamed later.
Excerpt from John Murray, Australian Dictionary of Biography.
Location
| Address: | Point Nepean Road, W E Newton Reserve, Portsea, 3941 |
|---|---|
| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -38.319408 Long: 144.713139 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Landscape |
| Sub-Theme: | Exploration |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 14-February-1802 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 14-February-1802 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Thursday 14th February, 2002 |
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The people of the Kulin lived in the
Port Phillip area for thousands of years.
Acting Lieutenant John Murray, Commander of
HMS Lady Nelson, the first recorded European ship
to enter the bay, landed of 14 February 1802 and walked
out from here to the high dunes.
The entrance to Port Phillip was sighted from Lady Nelson on
4 January 1802 but the ship did not attempt entry of the
Heads until 14 February following a survey by the
First Mate, WIlliam Bowen and his party in the
ship`s launch beginning 31 January.
Murray named Point Nepean and Arthurs Seat at this time.
This plaque was unveiled on 14 February, 2002
To commemorate the bicentenary of the event
Nepean Historical Mornington Shire
Society Peninsula
14 02 02 - Bicentenary of the British Discovery of Port Phillip
