Biographical entry: Melville, Henry (1799 - 1873)
- Born
- 1799
- Died
- 1873
Details
Henry Melville, journalist, author and publisher, purchased the Colonial Times from Andrew Bent in 1830. He published Henry Savery's Quintus Servinton, the first Australian novel published in Australia; his Hobart Town Magazine (18 issues, 1833-34) was Australia's first monthly journal 'with literary pretensions'; and his The bushranger; or Norwood Vale was the first play with an Australian theme published and performed in the colonies. Melville fell foul of Lt-Governor Arthur, and was briefly imprisoned. His The history of the island of Van Diemen's Land from the year 1824 to 1835 - highly critical of Arthur - was published in London in 1835. Melville sold his newspaper interests in 1838-39 and retired to New Norfolk, but left the colony in 1849. In London he published Present state of Australia, with particular hints to emigrants (1851).
Michael Sprod