An Extremely Rare and Important Western Australian Document with chart of the Swan River, 1829 Ordered to be printed by the House of Commons, 13 May 1829. It includes copies of correspondence of the Colonial Department with various parties interested in forming a settlement at the Swan River, Wa. The Chart: Printed by: James and Luke Ge. Hansard and Sons. With watercolour wash in 5 colours. 27.5 cm x 65 cm (image size). It depicts and names various topographical features along the coast south to Cape Naturaliste and inland to 'General Darling's Range' Even at this early date, Mt. Eliza, Canning River, Ellen's Brook, Cockburn Sound, Gage Road, Rous Point, Woodmans Point and others, are all named on the chart. The chart also shows the following: The part coloured green, marks the lands intended for settlers and public purposes. The part coloured yellow to be granted to Mr Thomas Peel on condition of his landing 400 persons before the 1st November 1829 . The part coloured red granted to Captain Stirling R. N. Overall condition: very good. Paper oxidisation on extreme edges only, otherwise fine. Colour: original hand-colouring, bright, in excellent condition. The Text: Complete 6 printed sheets double sided giving 12 printed pages plus extra sheets at front and back. (Plus the above-mentioned folding chart) 35 x 21.7 cm Bound in original grey paper covers titled both sides; 'Correspondence. Swan River Settlement. Ordered by The House of Commons, to be Printed 13 May 1829'. Condition: Various pencil notations throughout text. Some fraying and oxidisation to borders, otherwise very good. A schedule is at page 2, in summary it indexes various correspondences, such as: 2. Copy of letter from Mr. Thomas to Mr. Twiss, 30 November 1828 11. Copy of a letter from Captain Stirling to Mr Hay, 26 December 1828 12. Copy of a letter from Mr. Hay to Captain Stirling, 1 January 1829 This document and chart is a direct result of a favourable report given by Stirling about the Swan River area upon his return to England . Prior to this, others such as the Dutch, French and even other English ships had visited our shores. It was, however, the threat of French Settlement in our South West, which promoted Governor Darling to send Major Lockeyer to establish the settlement at King Georges Sound (Albany) in 1827. The success of this settlement led to further exploration to the north. Captain Stirling, in Hms Success, initially sailed to Australia with the intention of exploring the North for settlement. This did not eventuate, instead from Sydney, he arrived at Rottnest Island on 4 March 1827 and within a few days set off with eighteen men in two small boats to explore the previously named (by de Vlamingh) Swan River. With Stirling was the marine artist, Frederick Garling, who recorded a number of views in watercolour. (Some of which are held by the Art Gallery of Western Australia and the Holmes - a - Court Collection) Captain Fremantle was then sent in Hms Challenger to take possession of the area for Britain ; he arrived 2 May 1829 . Whilst this document was printed 13 May 1829 for the House of Commons, it is actually a compilation of correspondence from mostly the previous year discussing various propositions for the establishment of the colony. Such as: - The provisions needed - The vessels needed - Perhaps the most important issue is that of land grants, particularly to Stirling and Peel. - The growing of crops etc. - The number of people. The number of 10,000 persons over 4 years is discussed. Importantly, the map is the first published of the Swan River and its surrounds. It was based directly on the survey work by Stirling in 1827, who later became the colony's first Governor in November 1831.