Historical information

Medal issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Edward Henty's arrival in Portland, Victoria. Edward Henty was born in England in 1809 and migrated to Australia, as did his parents and brothers, in 1829. On 19 November 1834 he sailed from Launceston in the Hentys' own schooner, the Thistle, with stock and a small party. His brother Francis followed the next month with a small flock of merino sheep, the first in Victoria. The Henty brothers began whaling at Portland Bay and took their flocks and herds inland to the rich area on the Wannon River. In the 1840s they were eventually granted pre-emptive rights over most of their lands. Henty was known as a capable and energetic man and regarded as the chief actor in the early history of Portland Bay. He and his wife Anne Marie Gallie moved to Muntham, a 60,000-acre property that became widely known for its merino sheep and Durham cattle. It was also known for its extravagant hospitality - to which Henty's social ambition and vanity contributed considerably. This extravagance and Henty's obstinacy eventually led to the degradation of the flocks. Henty lived in Portland and in his Melbourne mansion, Offington, while he served as a member of the Victoria Legislative Assembly. He died on 14 August 1878

Physical description

Portland Jubilee Medal, 1884. White metal, circular, holed at top as issued. One side features portrait of Edward Henty and text 'HENTY JUBILEE / PORTLAND / 19 NOV 1884' on the other side.