Having completed our operations, we next morning, January 1st, 1839, departed for Corio Harbour, situated at the head of a deep inlet midway on the western shore of Port Phillip.  We found our progress impeded as we beat up it by a long spit, extending two thirds of the way across from a low projecting point lying midway on the north shore.  On the opposite side, the land is of moderate elevation, and has in many places a most inviting rich park-like appearance, swelling on all sides into grassy downs, with patches of open woodland interspersed.  In the afternoon we anchored in three fathoms, about a quarter of a mile from the south point of Corio Harbour.  This is a level expanse of land named Point Henry, from which a long spit extends, leaving only a shoal channel between it and the northern shore.  Thus, though the harbour has apparently a broad open mouth, it is impossible for a large vessel to enter it.

January 2.

After breakfast a party of us went to visit Captain Fyans, the police magistrate of the district, for the purpose of arranging a trip to Station Peak.  We landed on the South-West corner of Corio Harbour, where we found four fathoms close to the beach, immediately over which is the north end of the township of Geelong.  A kind of store and two other wooden buildings pointed out its locality.  Captain Fyans was living in a log-hut on the banks of the Marabul River.  Our road thither lay west about three miles across a woody down.

RIVER BARWON.

The Marabul runs to the southward, and joins the Barwon flowing from the west; after which the united streams take a south-easterly direction.  The course of the latter I was anxious to trace, having seen its mouth in passing along the coast west from Port Phillip.  Very opportunely I met with Mr. Smith, belonging to the colonial surveying department, who being employed in the neighbourhood, took me to a commanding station on some low hills about three miles to the south, called by the natives Barabul.  We crossed the Barwon running to the south-east at the foot of them, near where it fell some height over a rocky shelf forming a pretty waterfall.  Turning to the left from this roar of water, you find the stream meandering silently between rich grassy flats.  On one of these Mr. Smith’s tents were pitched, overlooked by a craggy height on the opposite side of the river; and the blue stream of smoke that arose from the fire of his party, helped to impart life and beauty to the scene.  From the Barabul hills I almost traced the Barwon to its confluence with the sea.  Five miles to the south-east from where we stood it communicated with a large lagoon; after leaving which, I was informed there was only a depth of three feet, and a width of one eighth of a mile.  It is not, however, this alone that renders the Barwon useless for water-carriage to the town of Geelong; for the exposed situation of its mouth almost always prevents boats from entering.