Page:Handbook of Western Australia.djvu/79



The history of a Colony so isolated as Western Australia is rather that of social than of political change and progress. Captain Stirling landed from the Parmelia, 1st June, 1829, with a staff of eight persons and ten artisans and mechanics, with their wives and families and servants, 51 head of cattle, 200 sheep, 33 horses, some pigs and poultry. A large supply of fruit trees, plants, and seeds had been contributed by the Horticultural Society of London and at the Cape of Good Hope, which were immediately planted on Garden Island. The names and offices of these founders of the Colony were Captain James Stirling, Lieut.-Governor, and family of six persons, and George Eliot, aged 11 years; Peter Brown, Colonial Secretary, Mrs. Brown and two children; Lieut. J. S. Roe, E.N.,