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Rivett (or Revett) Henry Bland (2 February 1811 – 18 February 1894) was an early settler and a government administrator in
colonial Australia The history of Australia is the story of the land and peoples of the continent of Australia. People first arrived on the Australian mainland by sea from Maritime Southeast Asia between 50,000 and 65,000 years ago, and penetrated to all part ...
. Bland was the son of Thomas Bland and Emma Revett,Daniele, L, Australian Dictionary of Biography and was born at
Newark Newark most commonly refers to: * Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States * Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area Newark may also refer to: Places Canada * Niagara-on-the ...
, Nottinghamshire, on 2 February 1811. He was educated at the Newark grammar school, and at 14, studied for the medical profession at
St. Bartholomew's Hospital St Bartholomew's Hospital, commonly known as Barts, is a teaching hospital located in the City of London. It was founded in 1123 and is currently run by Barts Health NHS Trust. History Early history Barts was founded in 1123 by Rahere (died ...
, London but did not become a doctor. His brother was a member of the House of Commons.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948.


Western Australia

After leaving England in May 1829 for Western Australia on , he arrived in August at the age of 18 with his man-servant.Shirley Lutze: Bland of Balladong, Barladong No. 2, The York Society History & Heritage Journal, 2001, p.16. Because of the money and property he brought with him, he was granted on the left bank of the Swan River, a grant which extended almost from the river, part of which became the Houghton estate.Flora Smith and Donald Barrett-Lennard, A History of Houghton, Perth, c. 1975. In 1831, Bland was appointed by the Governor James Stirling to settle the
York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
district, about from
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
on the Avon River and to establish a stockyard there. Bland was a member of the first party of settlers to journey to the Avon Valley that set off on 6 September 1831, and he selected a place south of Mt Bakewell near a broad reach of the river.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. As instructed by Stirling, by the end of September 1831, Bland had built the first house in York above the ford. As instructed by Stirling, Bland established the government farm to the west of the Avon River ford.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. To do this, Bland went into partnership with
Arthur Trimmer Arthur Trimmer (1805–1877) was one of three brothers who were early settlers in the colony of Western Australia. He was the grandson of Sarah Trimmer (1741–1810), an educational reformer and writer. Arthur’s father was William Kirby Trimme ...
, who with his brothers had brought
Merino The Merino is a breed or group of breeds of domestic sheep, characterised by very fine soft wool. It was established in Spain near the end of the Middle Ages, and was for several centuries kept as a strict Spanish monopoly; exports of the bree ...
sheep to the colony. Bland established the Government farm "mostly at his own expense". Bland was to run the farm but both of them worked on the farm for some years. In 1832, Bland and Trimmer rented the Government stock farm for one
peppercorn Black pepper (''Piper nigrum'') is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, known as a peppercorn, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit is a drupe (stonefruit) which is about in diamet ...
per annum for two years provided that Bland and Trimmer house soldiers sent to York. The Government later awarded on the east side of the river to Bland as a reward for having settled it. Bland also received as grant south of the town. He called this land Balladong Farm from as early as 1831. In July 1834 Bland was returning from
Guildford Guildford () is a town in west Surrey, around southwest of central London. As of the 2011 census, the town has a population of about 77,000 and is the seat of the wider Borough of Guildford, which had around inhabitants in . The name "Guildf ...
when the following incident occurred: In September 1834, the Perth Gazette reported: In December 1834, at the age of 23, Bland was appointed resident magistrate for the York district without salary.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. At the same time as he was the main civil servant in the district, he was also one of the most successful farmers in the Colony. In June 1835, Trimmer was on his way to York when his cart broke down. He was compelled to go on for assistance. On his return, accompanied by Bland, when about 7 miles from their home at York, "they observed a native in the bush in the act of raising his spear, and shortly afterwards, a known signal being given, a party of about twelve rushed forward from the place of their concealment; but both Mr Trimmer and Mr Bland being apprised of their danger by the signal given, put spurs to their horses, and galloped about three miles, by which means they avoided their hostile assailants." In July 1835, Bland and Trimmer lost 16 pigs "speared and carried off by natives". Bland became superintendent of the work for the improvement of the York road, and he also commenced planning an exploratory expedition 100 miles to the east of his farm at York. The first town or suburban allotment of land in York was made to Trimmer and Bland on 31 July 1835, which they purchased for £20.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. By 1836, Trimmer and Bland had 5,000 sheep in York. Bland reported in 1836 that he had increased the flock at the rate of about 80 lambs to 100 ewes per annum. Lieutenant-Governor Stirling observed that if Bland were to stay in the Colony, he would become a wealthy man.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. In September 1836, two or three natives gained access to Bland and Trimmer's barn. One was carrying away a quantity of flour and was shot by a man named Gallop, who had been hiding in the loft of the barn. Two days later, in reprisal an old settler called Knott was speared in his hut and robbed. Following this incident, the partnership between Bland and Trimmer was dissolved with effect from 1 October 1836. In 1838, aged 26, Bland married Emily Sultizer (sometimes Lutzen) and around this time built "a very pleasant dwelling house" to live in at Balladong Farm. After the murder of Sarah Cook by Aboriginal people in 1839, Bland complained that because of new measures to protect natives, he was prevented from arresting the natives suspected of the crime.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. From 1840, Bland started sub-dividing part of Balladong Farm in an area which became known as Bland's Town, as it still is today. This included selling 10 acres to
Peter Barrow Peter Barrow (30 July 1813 – 6 October 1899) was a son of Sir John Barrow, 1st Baronet, and an early settler in the colony of Western Australia, becoming a magistrate and Protector of Aborigines, Guardian of Aborigines, Anglican priest and scho ...
, on which Barrow constructed St John's Church in 1840 and the building he used to try to establish Wallingford School. Bland bought this property back for 200 pounds in 1841. He also took Crown Grants of the farm that was to later be called "Daliak". In 1841, Bland sold the farm Grass Dale to Thomas Brown, and leased Balladong Farm, including a corn mill, to Henry Landor and Nathan Elias Knight. Also in 1841, Bland became Protector of Natives at a salary triple that of the resident magistrate, being paid from England. He was recommended for the job by Governor
John Hutt John Hutt (24 July 1795 – 9 April 1880) was Governor of Western Australia from 1839 to 1846. Life Born in London on 24 July 1795, John Hutt was the fourth of 13 children of Richard Hutt of Appley Towers, Ryde, Isle of Wight. He was educated ...
who described Bland's "thorough knowledge of the native character, acquaintance with their languages, great firmness combined with mildness of temper, long experience as a Magistrate and a high reputation for integrity and respectability, which gives him considerable influence among both the Colonists and the native population in the York district". Bland had been suffering from eye trouble for some time, and in 1842, Dr Harris (Colonial Surgeon) advised him to take 18 months leave and return to England for treatment. Bland resigned as resident magistrate in September 1842.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. Historian John Deacon said of Bland as
government resident A resident minister, or resident for short, is a government official required to take up permanent residence in another country. A representative of his government, he officially has diplomatic functions which are often seen as a form of indir ...
for 8 years: While in England, he secured a contract with the British Admiralty to supply 400 loads of Western Australian timber.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. He also lobbied for more Parkhurst lads to ease the labour shortage in Western Australia.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. A few months after his return from England in 1845, Bland lost his wife in childbirth. In September 1846, Bland was appointed acting Government Resident of Albany.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. In 1847, Bland sold "Daliak" to Thomas Carter and Henry Carter on terms, and in 1848, Bland sold Balladong Farm to the Parker family. On 6 February 1848,
Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Charles Fitzgerald Charles Fitzgerald ( – 29 December 1887) was an Irish officer in the Royal Navy and Governor of The Gambia from 1844 until 1847, then Governor of Western Australia from 1848 to 1855. Son of William FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster, Fitz ...
appointed Bland as personal secretary and Clerk of the Council in place of
Walkinshaw Cowan Walkinshaw Cowan (25 December 180822 January 1888) was private secretary to Western Australian Governors John Hutt, Andrew Clarke and Frederick Irwin, then in 1848 he became Guardian of Aborigines and a justice of the peace, and then resident m ...
. He remarried Martha Hinds (née McCallum), the widow of
Richard Brinsley Hinds Richard Brinsley Hinds FRCS (11 October 1811, Aldermaston, England25 May 1846, Swan River, Western Australia) was a British naval surgeon, botanist and malacologist. He sailed on the 1835–42 voyage by HMS ''Sulphur'' to explore the Pacific O ...
, on 26 December 1848 in St George's Church, Perth. Towards the end of 1848 he accompanied Fitzgerald on an expedition to
Champion Bay Champion Bay is a coastal feature north of Geraldton, Western Australia, facing the port and city between Point Moore and Bluff Point. Champion Bay was named by Lieutenant John Lort Stokes of , who surveyed the area in April 1840. He named ...
, for the purpose of examining a lode of
galena Galena, also called lead glance, is the natural mineral form of lead(II) sulfide (PbS). It is the most important ore of lead and an important source of silver. Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals. It cryst ...
, discovered on the Murchison River by
Augustus Charles Gregory Sir Augustus Charles Gregory (1 August 1819 – 25 June 1905) was an English-born Australian explorer and surveyor. Between 1846 and 1858 he undertook four major expeditions. He was the first Surveyor-General of Queensland. He was appointed a ...
. The party consisted of Fitzgerald, Bland, Gregory, three soldiers, and a servant. The discovery was verified, but on the return journey Fitzgerald was speared in the leg by some Aboriginal people, and Bland had a narrow escape.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. From January 1849 until June 1850, he became Acting Colonial Secretary.John E Deacon: A Survey of the Historical Development of the Avon Valley with Particular Reference to York, Western Australia During the Years 1830-1850, UWA, 1948. He was expected to have been appointed as Colonial Secretary but the appointment did not take place because he had to sail to South Australia for treatment of an ever-worrying eye complaint, which eventually resulted in the loss of one eye, and so he returned to England. In 1851, Bland wrote a paper entitled "On the character, habits and customs of the Aborigines of Western Australia".


Victoria

In 1852 he was appointed resident director of the Port Phillip and Colonial Gold Mining Company, and arrived in
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
towards the end of that year. In 1856 he arranged with the proprietors of some land at Clunes to commence mining operations on some
quartz Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide). The atoms are linked in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical form ...
lodes, and erected an extensive plant of machinery in conjunction with a party of miners, afterwards called the Clunes Quartz Mining Company. This mine has continued to be worked to the present time with varying results. The total gold, raised from 1857 to 1884 was , of the value of £2,029,078 13s. 7d., giving a profit of nearly half a million from an outlay under £20,000. He became a director of the National Bank from 1863 to 1865. He died in the colony of
Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...
on 18 February 1894, and his estate in England was proved in London on 23 May 1895. When his coffin left Clunes for Ballarat and Melbourne it did so to half-masted flags and a chorus of steam whistles. The house he lived in at Clunes survives. All his children died in childbirth or in infancy and his second wife also predeceased him.


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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bland, Rivett Henry 1811 births 1894 deaths Australian colonial governors and administrators Settlers of Western Australia People educated at Magnus Church of England School 19th-century Australian public servants