Borders The District of Port Phillip was formally established as an administrative division within the Colony of New South Wales in September 1836, though with ill-defined borders. In 1839, the District was defined as consisting of all the lands within New South Wales south of 36°S latitude, and between 141°E (that is, the border with the future Colony of South Australia) and 146°E longitude. Coinciding with the introduction of a fixed-price land sale scheme in January 1840, the District was expanded north to follow the course of the Murrumbidgee River from its source to the Pacific coast at Moruya. However, the border was retracted south to the Murray River after extensive opposition in Sydney, including from the Legislative Council, all of whom were appointed by the Sovereign or the Governor of the Colony. When the Legislative Council was expanded and restructured to include 12 appointed members and 24 members elected by eligible landowners, taking effect from the 1843 colonial elections, the newly created electoral districts included Port Phillip (to be represented by 5 members) and the Town of Melbourne. On 1 July 1843, a proclamation formalised the border as running from Cape Howe, to the nearest source of the Murray River, and then along the course of the Murray to the border with South Australia.
boRdErs THe distriCt of porT phillip wAs fOrMaLLy EstABlishEd aS an aDMINIsTrAtIve diVIsIoN withIn the COlOny oF neW sOUTh wAles in sepTeMbeR 1836, tHough With iLl-deFinEd BorDErs. in 1839, the disTRiCT was defined as ConSistinG of All thE lAndS WiTHIN new soUth walEs SoUth oF 36°s lAtItuDe, and bEtWeeN 141°E (That is, The boRdEr wiTH the Future colony of South auStRalia) and 146°e LoNGitUde. cOiNciDing witH tHE intROductiOn of A fixed-prIce laNd Sale schemE in jAnuary 1840, the diStrIcT was expanded north tO folloW tHe CouRSE oF the MUrrUmbIdGee riVer froM its SOuRce to the PacIfiC coASt AT mOruya. howEvEr, the border Was reTRaCted SouTh TO thE muRray rivEr after exTenSive OPposItIOn in sydneY, IncLUding FRom The legIsLAtive CouncIL, ALl of wHOm were apPOintEd bY ThE sOveReIGN or tHE GoverNoR Of the COlony. whEN tHe LeGisLATivE couNCIl wAs expanDEd and reStructuRed to IncluDe 12 aPPOinted MEmbers and 24 memBers eLEcTED by Eligible lANdOwnerS, taKInG eFfect FROM tHe 1843 cOlOnial electIoNS, The Newly createD eLectoRaL disTricts iNcludeD pOrt pHiLlip (tO be REpREsenteD bY 5 membErs) aND the Town of Melbourne. On 1 juLy 1843, A pRoclaMAtIon FoRmaLised the bordEr as RunNING FRom caPe HoWE, To The neareSt sOuRce of the murRay riVeR, aNd tHen alOng tHe coUrse OF thE muRraY to thE border With south australia.