HISTORY HOUSE PORTLAND

Portland is Victoria's earliest surviving settlement.
Sealing and Whaling brought in the introduction of European visitors 
to the region,and had been carried out in Portland  Bay from the late 
1820's.
William Dutton was the first land based sealer who formed a primitive
settlement in 1833 and he was followed shortly after by members of
the Henty family who began exploration of the region in 1833 and then
formed a  permanent settlement in November of 1834, six months before 
the village of Melbourne was founded.

Portland for many years was a major port on the south western 
coastline of Victoria, and during the early years of the gold 
rushes Portland Bay  was anchorage for 37 immigrant ships from 
England, bringing 11,395  new settlers to the shores of the 
Western District and beyond.

Resources:

History House and the Portland Family History group hosts one
of the largest collections of genealogy and history sources
available in Australia,including:-

Newspapers
	     	 *Portland Observer   *Portland Mirror
		 *Portland Chronicle  *Portland Mercury
		 *Portland Guardian      
		   Full Index till 1860 & B.D.M's till 1919
	 
	      	*Port Phillip Gazette
	      	*Belfast Banner
	      	*Coleraine Albion
              	*Casterton News
Library
               *Large collection of material in relation to
		the Portland and Western District region.
	       *Maritime Collection  [extensive collection]
               *All States history & genealogy
	       *Convict Collection
	       *Military & War Memorabilia
	       *Gazetters etc
               *Published Family Histories 
Cemeteries
                *Portland and District
		*Western Victoria
                *Asstd Tas,Vict NSW & S.A
Other Resources
               *Local Photo Collection
               *Fiches Indices for all states
               *Probate & Inquest Indices
	       *Genealogy Magazines
	       *Local Government Magazines
	       *Assorted Local Marriage & Baptism Indices & Certs
	       *Stray Certificates
               *Hospital & Benevolent Home records
               *Map Collection.