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32
[from the Melbourne Age. 6 August 1864.]
Extracts from a letter by Robert Hamilton.
"Aboriginal Settlement at Coranderrk.
"This Nation has a Government Reserve of 2300 acres
about 40 miles from Melbourne, and is situated
on what is called the Yarra Flats. It is well
supplied with water, having the Yarra and [Bacher's?]
Creek on one side, and Walts River on the other. Three
sides of the settlement have a water frontage, all the
year round;.. and the remaining side has a natural
fortification of Mountainous Ranges. It is secluded,
and thereby fitted to preserve the native from free and
injurious intercourse with the whites. The soil, in
part at least is adapted for agriculture. The greater
part is covered with Bush, and contains abundance of
fire wood, and what is of great importance a consider-
able amount of game. Kangaroos, opossums,
wombats, and native bears, wild ducks, parrots,
magpies, swans and are all found here, and often
yield to the fatal shot of the natives. There were
66 natives on the settlement on the occasion of the
writer's visit, and one born during the time. A