History of Gippsland and Wilsons Promontory

The area was originally inhabited by Indigenous Australians of the Gunai nation and parts of the Bunurong nation. Following European settlement, Samuel Anderson, a Scottish immigrant and early explorer who landed in Hobart Tasmania in 1830 established the third permanent settlement in Victoria at Bass in 1835. His business partner Robert Massie joined him in 1837. Both had worked for the VDL Co based at Circular Head Tasmania. Samuel's brothers Hugh and Thomas arrived at Bass shortly after. Sealers and wattle bark gatherers had frequented the area but not settled. Further European settlement began following two separate expeditions to the area. Angus McMillan led the first European expedition through the area between 1839 and 1840, naming the area "Caledonia Australis". This was followed in March 1840 by Polish explorer Pawe? Edmund Strzelecki, who unknowingly led his expedition across the same terrain already encountered by McMillan, renaming many natural landmarks and places. Following these expeditions, the area was officially given the title of "Gippsland", a name chosen by Strzelecki in honour of the New South Wales Governor, George Gipps, his sponsor