Gardens Victoria now are. George Langhorne, Missionary, 1837–1839 Replacing this effort, the Port Phillip Protectorate was established in 1839. Four full-time Assistant Protectors were allocated to a quarter of the district. In 1843, the Port Phillip District was greatly expanded. The Protectorate operated until 1849, when a Select Committee recommended its closure. George Augustus Robinson, Chief Protector, 1839–1849 James Dredge, Assistant Protector in the Goulburn or Northeast District, 1839–1840 Charles Sievwright, Assistant Protector in the Geelong or Western District, 1838–1842 Edward Stone Parker, Assistant Protector in the Mt Macedon or Northwest District, 1839–1849 William Thomas, [some form of Protector] 1837–1839; Assistant Protector in the Central Protectorate District of Westernport, 1839–1849 At the end of the Protectorate, Assistant Protector William Thomas was made "Guardian of Aborigines" starting 1 January 1850, predominantly acting in the Greater Melbourne area. The Port Phillip District became the Colony of Victoria in 1851. His position was a hands-on role that continued after a new administrative structure for protection was created. William Thomas, Guardian of Aborigines (in the counties of Bourke, Mornington and Evelyn), 1850–c. 1867 The Central Board appointed to Watch Over the Interests of the Aborigines was established in 1860. (Some contemporary sources call it the Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines). It was headed by a President, who was responsible for its work. It appointed Superintendents in the colony's Aboriginal stations and "Honorary Correspondents" in other areas who worked with the Aborigines being watched over. This board was replaced by a firmly-named Central Board for the Protection of Aborigines in 1869 (via the Aboriginal Protection Act 1869). This act made Victoria the first colony to enact comprehensive regulations on the lives of Aborigines. The Secretary now not only did the bulk of administrative work of the board, but was credited with making proclamations in public notices. The Chairman and the other Board members directed policy. The General Inspector inspected the Superintendents and their stations. The 1869 Act authorised the removal of neglected Aboriginal children from their families. From the late 1870s, it became customary for the Colonial Secretary (aka Premier) to be the Chairman. By the 1880s, the Honorary Correspondents had been replaced by "Guardians" (later "Local Guardians") operating from "depots". Prompted by the contested situation at Coranderrk, the Aboriginal Protection Act 1886 gave the board extensive new powers over the lives of Aboriginal people, including regulation of residence, employment and marriage. It