1851 John Dunmore Lang Colony
In 1823, British John Dunmore Lang (1799-1878) a presbyterian clergyman, politician immigration organiser, educationist, journalist, patriot and statesman arrived in Sydney to take up his ministry.
Lang soon realised that the poverty he left behind in Britain could be relieved to some extent by emigration to Australia feeling that a well-off protestant peasantry would reduce the problems of English industrialism. To this end he was always looking for suitable new areas and country away from the problems of Sydney and Hobart.
In 1845, Lang visited Moreton Bay and was so impressed that in 1848 he persuaded about 270 immigrants to come to Moreton Bay. Lang's promise of free land in proportion to their passage money was not realised due to colonial bureaucracy and his scheme failed.
In the years 1847-49, while visiting England, Lang wrote a series of letters to Earl Grey (Secretary of State for the Colonies) recommending that a new colony be created out of New South Wales to the northward of 30 degrees of south latitude. The home government must have been influenced by Lang’s proposals as in 1851 they passed an Imperial Act The Australian Colonies Government Act, which contained a clause (Section 34) which allowed for that to be it at some future date.
In 1856, the Secretary of State for the Colonies announced that it was their intention to create a new colony whose southern border line would run not far to the south of 30 degrees south latitude but would be accommodated to suit the natural features of the country.
During the next few years strong debate ensued, petitions for and against from both the squatters and merchants in the proposed border area were sent to the Governor of New South Wales, Sir William Denison as well as the Secretary of State for the Colonies in Britain. Lang of course kept agitating for his colony “Cooksland” where he hoped to settle yeoman protestant farmers who would grow crops of cotton and sugar.
The considerable influence of the New England and Armidale squatters was to greatly affect the location of the border. They feared that if they were to be located in the new colony then their power base which was in the Sydney Parliament would be eroded.
By 1857 Denison had made his recommendation to the home government for a border starting at the coastline at Point Danger at about 28 degrees south latitude.
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Last updated: 13 July 2009