Central Business District in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

The First Melbourne Land Auction

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, April 14, 2026

1. The First Melbourne Land Auction Marker

Inscription. The site of the Princes Bridge Hotel (Young and Jackson's) was purchased for £100 at the first Melbourne Land Auction in 1837 by John Batman, founder of this Great City

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.

Location. 37° 49.036′ S, 144° 58.033′ E. Marker is in Melbourne, Victoria. It is in the Central Business District. It is at the intersection of Swanston Street and Flinders Street (Victoria Route 30), on the left when traveling north on Swanston Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Oceania,

Australasia,

the Pacific Ocean,

South Pacific,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Princes Bridge Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); St Pauls Cathedral Precinct (within

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shouting distance of this marker); You Should Have Seen It (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Town Hall Foundation Stone (about 210 meters away); Melbourne Town Hall (about 210 meters away); The Athenaeum Building (about 240 meters away); The Melbourne Athenaeum (about 240 meters away); Duke of Wellington Hotel (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melbourne.

Also see . . . Foundation of Melbourne. Only Melbourne website

Governor Bourke authorised the first sale of Crown land in Melbourne, which was conducted by Senior-Surveyor Robert Hoddle on 1st June, 1837.

The sale comprised three areas bounded by:

-:- Swanston Street, Collins Street, William Street and Bourke Street.

-:- King Street, Flinders Street, William Street and Collins Street.

-:- Elizabeth Street, Flinders Street, Queen Street and Collins Street.

Each block, as laid out by Hoddle, was subdivided into 20 allotments (total 100) each of approximately half an acre (0.202 hectares). Each purchaser was covenanted to erect a substantial building on the land within a year to the value of 50pounds.
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, April 14, 2026

2. Young and Jackson's Princes Bridge Hotel
The First Melbourne Land Auction Marker is at the right, just to the left of the tree
All the land was sold and the more westerly the situation, the more valuable the land.

(Submitted on May 8, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

Hoddle Grid Public Auction Map image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Henry Hoddle

3. Hoddle Grid Public Auction Map

from Trove

Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 8, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.