Produced by Graeme Mackreth and The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from scans of public domain works at The National Library of Australia.) _ADVANCE AUSTRALIA._ A SETTLER'S 35 YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, And how £6 8s. became £8,000. WITH ADVICE TO SETTLERS, &c. "Men are agents for the future, As they work so ages win, Either harvest of advancement, Or the product of their sin." _Inscribed by the kind permission of the HONOURABLE ALFRED DEAKIN, Chief Secretary of Victoria._ Melbourne: M.L. Hutchinson, 305 & 307 Little Collins Street, Nearly Opposite Royal Arcade. Rae Bros., Printers, 547 and 549 Elizabeth Street North. [Illustration: "Off for 200 Miles' Tramp." See Page 10.] CONTENTS. PAGE. Sketch of Artist Life 1 Farewell to Dear Old England 3 Melbourne at Last 6 Christian Socialism 7 Melbourne Experience 9 Off to the Diggings 10 Ten Years on the Diggings 12 Commence Farming 18 Increase of Holdings 25 The Consummation 26 A Dissertation on Temperance 28 The Vine Industry 31 The Settlement of the Lands 32 Irrigation 35 A Scheme of Settlement 37 A Glimpse at the Future of Australia 45 Conclusion 48 Poetry, "All the Way" 49 Introduction. In giving this little "Life Sketch," I am actuated by a desire to assist many, not only hard-handed men in the "Old Country," but many soft-handed ones also, as I was, and especially those who have large families, as I had, and who are struggling for a living, and see but little hope for the future in the already over-crowded hive in the "Old Land," and a still poorer prospect for the new swarms; I, therefore, think a little advice and encouragement to those desirous to "cast off," from one who has been through it all, will be welcomed by many.--E.H. Sketch of My Artist Life.