Extract from Part 2 of the Journal kept on board.
Voyage from Dunedin to Melbourne (Tarnagulla.)
BY MRS A. F. PORTER 1869
(Wife of Albert Freeman (Frederick) Porter)

Kindly submitted By John R. Porter
(Please contact for further information.)

March 8th. Monday afternoon.
We have had constant head winds since left Hohitiki. Sighted land early this morning, and expect to arrive in Melbourne this evening. Our passage after the first four days of Sea sickness , has been on the whole a pleasant one. The Captain, is one of those genial pleasant looking persons like what we have read about who seem to spread sunshine and cheerfulness all around. He is a real gentleman and a captain who is not above his work, but out well for the safety of the ship and the interests of all on board. I have been on deck nearly all day viewing the Australian coast. We are just now entering the heads. It is 40 miles from them to Melbourne.

Tuesday Morning.
We arrived at Melbourne last evening, about 10 oclock. When we where within 20 miles of Melbourne we met the Steamship Galatea, which has on board His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, so we are too late to see him. He is going to visit N.Z. About 18 miles from Melbourne is Sandridge , a seaport town of considerable size and importance. A few miles further on is Williamstown, another fine Sea port Town. as it grew dark, quite soon after we passed these, I have of course but a very imperfect knowledge of the scenery the rest of the way. But I remember that after the Pilot came on board he conducted us up some 4 or 5 miles up a very narrow river all the way to the Jetty. This river in many places was not more than three times the width of the Steamer. Just before we got in we heard the railway train pass up to Melbourne.

Wednesday 10th.
Have just visited the public reading room and picture gallery. We were quite surprised to find it so nice. I cannot say how many thousand volumes it contains, but it is an immense collection of books; the largest I ever saw. The building is large really grand affair and the rooms spacious and airy. It is a great convenience as it is open to the Public. It would certainly do credit to a city 3 times as old as
Melbourne.

Friday 12th.
Have just returned from a walk in the botanical gardens about a mile from here. I do not know how many acres these gardens cover, but they are very extensive. They are situated upon the side of a gently sloping hill at the foot of which flows the Yarra river. Here are cultivated the different sorts of trees and flowers which grow in almost every part of the world. The date, the Palm the Fig tree, and nearly all kinds that I have ever seen or read about. In these grounds are several hot houses. I went into 2 of them and was much delighted with luxuriant and beautiful appearances of the flowers.

Sunday 14th.
Heard the Rev. Mr. New preach this morning in the Albert Street Baptist Church. albert preached this evening in Collingwood, about 3 miles from here.

Monday 15th.
Spent this forenoon at the Museum, which is open for the Public every day, and free from charge. This Museum, as well as the other Public buildings, and gardens of Melbourne , far exceeded our expectations; and are certainly very creditable to a city of only 30 years growth. Tomorrow we are to leave our boarding place and move into a single cottage in East Collingwood, one of the suburban towns.

March 28th.
I have not been out much since we moved to the cottage, but yesterday I enjoyed a nice walk in the Fitzroy gardens. Trees natives of all climes, and countries under the sun, are prettily arranged here. Flowers line shady walks, fountains, statuary and nice seats combine to make this a very pleasant retreat, especially in a hot day. These gardens extend over many acres of ground. They are not more than ten minutes walk from the centre of Melbourne, and is always open to the public.
Melbourne is the largest city I have ever been in including its suburb urban Towns, it is much more extensive than Boston and its suburban Towns, but Melbourne is not so prosperous as Boston, the houses and shops are not so high nor can we expect them to be in a new Country like this. Melbourne is built upon 9 hills its streets are immensely wide, indeed some of them are regular broadways.

April 4th.
Albert has preached in the several Baptist churches here and yesterday he received an appointment from the Australian Baptist Association to Tarnagulla; a small town about 100 miles from here; And today he received 2 letters from the Baptists of Christs Church N.Z containing the Macedonian Cry, come over and help us; He immediately laid the matter before one the old ministers here, who advised him to go to Tarnagulla for a few weeks at least, before deciding Christ Church he goes to Tarnagulla next week

April 9th.
The children and I have been taking a walk in Flindey Park. It is a pretty spot, upon the banks of the Jarra River. Milton amused himself fishing in the River.

April 20th.
Albert has been to Tarnagulla most two weeks. He baptized 8 last Sunday, and expects to baptize again next Sunday. The Church there has given him a call, be he has not yet decided whether he will accept it.
May 1st. Albert came home last Monday to move us up to Tarnagulla, as he had fully decided to accept the pastorate of that church. His labors have been much blessed. He has baptized several and other are waiting for the ordinance. We hastily packed up and got everything ready for a move, and Wednesday afternoon the Truckman came and took our luggage to the railroad station ( they never say Depot as we do in a America ). Then we went into Melbourne, and put up for the night at Tankards Temperance Hotel. Temperance people and temperance principles are rather scarce article in these Colonies. The common beverage is Porter, ale, and wine and nearly every body drinks those but they do not think they are doing any harm, by drinking moderately and affirm that they are quite temperate. They have far far more respect for what they call temperance than for total abstinence. I have often been quite shocked to see those liquors used by ministers, as well as others, but judging from what we have seen and heard, drunkenness is not more common here than at home. We left Melbourne Thursday at quarter past 12, in the cars and had a long ride by rail about 97 miles and at 4 oclock we reached the Kangaroo Flat Station, and as the cars do not go further in the direction that we are travelling our conveyance for the remainder of the journey is a far different one. We had scarcely alighted from the cars, when we are met by Mr John Smith, a good brother from the church at Tarnagulla, who had come with a horse and carriage to take us up there. ( It is so amusing to find John Smiths all over the world ). As it is 4 oclock when we arrive at the Kangaroo Flat Station, we tarry there for the night, at Guns Hotel. Kangaroo is a small village a better looking place than we had imagined, from the name it bears. The days in which the wild beasts roamed over the plains are among the things of the past.
Left Kangaroo Flat at 8 1/2 on Friday morning. Nearly all the way from Melbourne to Tarnagulla is settled . We passed through several fine Towns, and a number of gold mining districts and agricultural districts, the population of the latter is very thin and scattered, the farms are immensely large. Wheat is the chief product. The scenery is tame and uninteresting, there are but few rivers, lakes, or mountains, much of the country consists of vast level plains; with here and there an elevation which they call a mountain, but after seeing N. Zealand mountains they appear insignificant. We have heard of Italian skies, but can not imagine them brighter, clearer, or more beautiful than the skies of Sunny Australia. Arrived at Tarnagulla at 4 P. M. found a number of the brethren and Sisters at the parsonage who gave us a friendly welcome. Two of the Church members are fellow countrymen. I like them much. The bulk of the population of this colony are English. I feel much fatigued this morning after such a journey, but I suppose our travelling is over at least for a little while. It is just one year to day since we broke up housekeeping in Dartmouth. Quite a long time to be wandering, we can well say we are pilgrims and strangers here, and have no continuing City, but as we expect to tarry here, at least for a time, we will call this place Home ! though it is in a strange land, far away from kindred and early associations and try to comfort ourselves with the thought that though.--
For a foreign land We are not far from home and nearer to house above. We every moment come.