Dear Listers, >From where I see it, the Port of Warrnambool was established, as Jenny says in 1856. George Bostock was the first to establish a Bond Store on Lady Bay. He was a founding member of the Road Board and also of the first council. He was on the committee to press for the Port to be allocated by the Victorian Government, which it was, in 1856. George was the manager (partner) of Manifold and Bostock with Thomas Manifold. They had purchased the land at Lady Bay, hoping, it seems, that the Port of Warrnambool would be approved in the near future. That is what occurred of course, and the rest is history. Sadly, George died in 1858, but left a wonderful story of enterprise, hard work and determination. He had built The Mill at Mortlake in 1856. Aged about 14 years in c.1840, George was put in charge of checking out all vessels that entered the Moyne River at Port Fairy. He had followed John Cox (s/o James of Clarendon) who had the first bond store at Port Fairy and Michael Connolly (Leura) who was into whaling with the Griffith Family of Launceston. George was born at 'Vaucluse', Cleveland, Tasmania. They all came from Tasmania, as did the Manifolds, Wares, Aitkins, McRobie, and so many others, as Jenny has said. George's father Captain Robert Bostock of 'Vaucluse", Tasmania had taught his son the ways of the sea, trade and shipping apparently. His father's letters from that time show he was ready always to give his son instruction. Robert Bostock was put incharge of the Commissiariat Store at Constitution Dock in 1821 and had his own bond store at the Hobart docks by 1822. He had been a merchant in Sydney Town some years previously. This store on Hobart Docks, later became the Government Treasury and was demolished c.1880. I have photos of both events... I hope this is of some background interest..... Sincerely Thelma (Bostock) Birrell in Queensland. Bostock Betts Barker Blease Wilkinson http://birrell.1hwy.com/index.htm Cox Upjohn Connell of Wimborne www.angelfire.com/rnb/mrbirrell/ Jas Cox Connell Collins http://matthewbirrell.tripod.com/index.htm Scots-Irish Delahunty Fletcher Mulholland Rafferty Maltman Shearer http://matthewbirrell.50megs.com/index.html Landsborough www.electricscotland.com/history/world/landsb.htm Robe (Robb) Bostock (Keith/Bristol) www.electricscotland.com/webclans/minibios/r/robe_family.htm