ACT 3. Scene 1. Young Mrs Jane Henty and Senior Henty's at Portland

Prelude.

The Henty enterprise at Portland existed as a “FREE from Government Interference Settlement” before Melbourne was officially settled, and for some time after Melbourne’s existence, even after Governor Bourke’s visit when he named the settlement Melbourne.

The site at Portland had been occupied by Sealers and Whalers on a seasonal basis. One name that keeps on arising is William Dutton, a Ship’s Captain, who also choose to stay at the Portland site when the sealing and whaling seasons finished. So when the Henty family members arrived he was already settled there.

Whaling, sealing and its oil sales, became very important to the Henty Family, It made lots of sailing boats from Launceston, visit Portland with cargo and passengers, and then go to Melbourne, South Australia, Sydney and Western Australia with whale oil supplies, wool, wattle bark for tanning leather, and people.

Old Mrs. Thomas ( Jane) Henty, was interviewed by the Newspaper, after the death of her husband Stephen Henty. He had become a Magistrate and a Member of the Legislative Assembly. She did not give the details that are in the Play.

Scene 1

Young Mrs Jane Henty and Senior Henty's at Portland
Commence the Slide or Picture show for ACT 3

“Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser January 1873”

Reporter. Thank you for consenting to this interview Mrs. Henty. We at the Newspaper feel that you are in a position to tell our readers more about the settling of Portland.

Older Mrs. Stephen Henty. I will probably repeat some information I have already given you, so you will have to select what to print.

Reporter. Why not tell us about when, Mr. Thomas Henty Mrs. Francis Henty, accompanied your husband Stephen, yourself and young Richmond arrived back to Portland, aboard the Henty barque Sally Ann.

Older Mrs. Stephen Henty. Well from the later half of 1838 to October 1839, was quite tumultuous.

Young (20 years old) Mrs.Jane Henty. Well Mother Henty, what do you think of our Home. It is not the same as when I came here at age 19. My husband and your sons have greatly enlarged and extended the homestead. Do you think Father Henty and yourself will be comfortable while you are here?

Mother Francis Henty. I am just very happy to be here Jane, with you and some of my sons. Father is going to ride all over the place to see all that is happening. He already thinks the countryside can support hundreds more sheep, especially if that new place Melbourne, according to Governor Bourke when he visited there, already supports at least 100,00 sheep. The letters from here and the boys visits to Launceston do not explain all the goings on, so he actually wants to stay with some of the outlying shepherds in their shacks.

Young Mrs. Jane Henty. You can see how well the vegetable gardens are kept, Stephen says that soon we will have more than enough vegetables for ourselves, our laborers and servants, to take the remainder on our boats and sell in South Australia.

Mother Francis Henty. I can still remember when the Thistle sailed past Cormiston for this place you now call Portland, Edward was much younger then, and of course so was Henry Camfield.

Young Mrs. Jane Henty. Edward has told me about that voyage from Launceston to form this settlement. They had on board the Thistle, lots of stores for building a settlement, some animals, and stores for the Sealing people who lived here during the sealing season. Captain Dutton especially required some special stores, like tobacco After all he chooses to remain here when the whaling season, closes down.

Mother Francis Henty. Yes, the distance from Launceston to Portland, is about 400 miles, but it took the boys 34 days to get here. The winds blew up every day, They got to within 5 miles of this Bay, but the wind from the W.N.W. blew them back to seek shelter at King Island

Young Mrs. Jane Henty. I must see to young Richmond, he has just woken up.

Mother Francis Henty. Whereabouts did Major Thomas Mitchell, and his small party, arrive and camp when they were here in August 1836. Frank told me that he suggested to Major Mitchell, that the Sally Ann would be arriving with more stores so he should wait until the barque arrives.

Young Mrs. Jane Henty. About here!. Whenever I have discussed that surprising visit with Frank and Edward, they said that whilst Major Mitchell was very surprised at the Settlement here ,he soon enlisted Edward and Franks help in surveying near Cape Bridgewater and the supplies the boys gave him for the remainder of his party that were camped quite a long way away.