Victoria and The Australian Gold Mines In 1857; with Notes on the Overland Route From Australia, via Suez by William Westgarth (1815-1889) Published by Smith, Elder and Co. 1857. First edition. 466 pages plus preface and contents. With three engraved maps (two folding), and a terminal 16 page publisher's advertisement catalogue. 

This is the sole edition of Scottish-born merchant, historian, statistician and politician William Westgarth's account of the Australian colony of Victoria, its history, present condition, and future prospects - with an emphasis upon gold mining operations. Westgarth emigrated in 1850 and was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. He came to represent Melbourne in the first election Victorian legislative council and was a prominent figure in the social and political development of Victoria. He was instrumental in the passing the resolution of 1852 prohibiting the transportation of convicts to the colony. In 1857 he sailed to England, settled in London and as William Westgarth and Company, began business as colonial agents and brokers. He established a reputation as the adviser to various colonial governments floating loans in London and was consulted during the next 30 years. Finding gold in Victoria prompted him to publish this book, an important work by an early settler. Modern historians consider Westgarth to have been an outstanding sociological thinker of the colonies and the most perceptive of the early Australian historians. He wrote four major books on Victoria promoting the colony to prospective immigrants.

The first map, folded and facing the title page is large and detailed of the whole State/Colony of Victoria, including railways and telegraph lines. Bendigo is still Sandhurst in the map, but Bendigo in the book. The second smaller folding map is of the entire Port Phillip Bay area and the third, a one page map of inner Melbourne is still called Port Phillip and is opposite page 73 Chapter IV

Octavo in original publisher's blind-stamped green cloth, lettered in gilt, with slight wear at corners and base of spine. Ragged dirty cut/top pages edge. The large map is age toned on the centre/outer fold and has partly separated, also a small tear near the cut allowing folded attachment to the book. Both tears have been repaired with archival tape. Tears to 4 pages with old repair. Original owner's name on title page. A very good copy.