Summary

Australia Victoria
Medal - Shire of Bass, Victorian Sesquicentenary Samuel Anderson 1985 (AD)
Mint: Brim
Other Details: A copper medal issued by the Shire of Bass (now Bass Coast) to commemorate the sesquicentenary of Victoria in 1984-5. It features a bust of the first settler Samuel Anderson (1835) and the sesquicentenary logo. Samuel Anderson was born in Scotland into a wealthy family and trained as a journalist. He wrote in favour of emigration and in 1834 himself migrated. He and his partner Robert Massie fitted out a ship for exploration in Tasmania and arrived in Western Port Bay in 1835, just weeks after Fawkner's party reached Port Phillip. They founded an agricultural settlement on the Bass River, grew wheat, and established a flour mill, salt works and orchard. His brother joined them in 1837. Anderson also explored the local area, and in June 1840 he reported the existence of an large body of water at the mouth of the Tarwin River to Governor Latrobe, which he named the Latrobe. Anderson's Inlet and the Anderson Peninsula are named after the family. Anderson died at San Remo in 1863.

Physical Description

A copper medal issued by the Shire of Bass (now Bass Coast) to commemorate the sesquicentenar of Victoria in 1984-5. It features a bust of the first settler Samuel Anderson (1835) and the sesquicentenary logo

Obverse Description

Bust facing 3/4 left below, SAMUEL ANDERSON around above, FIRST PERMANENT SETTLER BASS 1835

Reverse Description

Logo of the Victorian sesquicentenary; below, VICTORIA 150 / GROWING TOGETHER 1984-5 at rim in small letters the mint name, BRIM MELB

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

Samuel Anderson was born in Scotland into a wealthy family and trained as a journalist. He wrote in favour of emigration and in 1834 himself migrated. He and his partner Robert Massiefitted out a ship for exploration in Tasmania and arrived in Western Port Bay in 1835, just weeks after Fawkner's party reached Port Phillip. They founded an agricultural settlement on the Bass River, grew wheat, and established a flour mill, salt works and orchard. His brother joined them in 1837. Anderson also explored the local area, and in June 1840 he reported the existence of an large body of water at the mouth of the Tarwin River to Governor Latrobe, which he named the Latrobe. Anderson's Inlet and the Anderson Peninsula are named after the family. Anderson died at San Remo in 1863. -Australian Dictionary of Biography. -D. Tout-Smith 19/12/2003.

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