Sunday August 30, 2009, represents a milestone in Melbourne's history, marking 174 years since the city's founding - the day the first European settlers landed on the north bank of the Yarra River from the schooner Enterprize in 1835.

This pioneering group was led by Captain John Lancey with Launceston builder George Evans and his servant Evan Evans, carpenters William Jackson and Robert Hay Marr, ploughman Charles Wise and blacksmith James Gilbert and his wife Mary making up the party.

It was on 30 August 1835 that these first settlers landed and commenced with the building of a thatched storage hut and the clearing of land along the north bank of the Yarra River. This location today is known as Enterprize Park where Williams Street and Flinders Street meet near the old Customs House.

The people of the Kulin nation are the traditional owners of the land that became Melbourne, including the Boonwurrung, Woiwurrung, Taungurung and Djadjawurrung people, who gathered in this place for ceremonies and cultural activities.

Melbourne Day celebrates more than just the day the city was founded. It represents the point at which the proud community of Melbourne began.
And it is a day to celebrate all that makes Melbourne one of the world's most liveable cities.

Visit Melbourne on August 30 and join the array of exciting events being planned, or take advantage of free or discounted entry into a range of attractions. We hope to get as many Melburnians as possible joining the fun and learning about their city's history.

Highlights of the events program:

• 10am, August 30: Official Flag Raising Ceremony and Family Morning Tea at Enterprize Park - join Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Melbourne Day chairman Campbell Walker at the biggest flag-raising event of the year. A special message direct from the Mayor of Launceston will arrive aboard the Spirit of Tasmania acknowledging Launceston's link with Melbourne's history. Free public festivities include live entertainment, morning tea and a rifle volley plus cannon fire by the Historial Re-enactment Society. Come and meet the 2009 Melburnian of the Year. MC is Rob Gell.
  Where: Cnr William Street and Flinders Street (near Melbourne Aquarium on the Yarra River's north bank).
  
  
• Melbourne Day debate, Thursday, 27 August -
  Should Melbourne Banish All The Lawyers? Melbourne Business Network's (inc. West End Business Association) annual luncheon has long been established as the must-attend cornerstone of Melbourne Day celebrations. This year's debate, moderated by Peter Moon from Logie-Smith Lanyon Lawyers, pits the Nays:
  
  Bryan Dawe, political satirist performs as "Sir Murray Rivers, QC";
  Tom Elliott, MM&E Capital Ltd and 3AW;
  Dr Sally Cockburn, "Dr Feelgood", 3AW.
  
  versus the Yeas:
  Rachel Doyle, Victorian Bar;
  Simon Wilson, QC;
  Tania De Jong, AM, soprano Pot Pourri, Music Theatre Aust and Creativity Aust, LL.B (Hons);
  
  Venue: Regent Plaza Ballroom, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne.
  For more information or to book online visit melbournebusinessnetwork.org.au
  
  
• 7pm, August 29: Melbourne Awards ceremony gala dinner at Melbourne Town Hall – to recognise outstanding people and organisations that make significant but often unsung contributions to community. The awards are announced at a spectacular black-tie dinner. Entries to the 2009 Melbourne Awards have closed. More details, melbourne.vic.gov.au/melbourneawards
  
  
• Melbourne Day Lecture - Reconstructing the natural history of Melbourne, by Dr Gary Presland
  Where: Royal Historical Society of Victoria, 239 A'Beckett Street, Melbourne
  When: Monday 31 August, tea/coffee 12.30pm, lecture 1pm
  Cost: Members free, non members $5.50. Details, RHSV News
  
  
• The changing face of Victoria - FREE exhibition
  at the State Library of Victoria. Details, state library website
  
  
• Melbourne Football Club Competition - win a family pass.
  The club is celebrating Melbourne Day doing what it does best – playing footy at the MCG! Come and support Melbourne’s namesake team versus St Kilda FC. The club is giving away 50 family passes (two adults and two children) to the match. Passes include free admission to the National Sports Museum. To enter, simply answer: what is your favourite place in Melbourne and why? Entries can be a letter, poem, or picture. Best entries will be published online at www.melbournefc.com.au. Send entries, including your name, date of birth, school name and phone number to competition@melbournefc.com.au or post to Melbourne FC, PO Box 254, East Melbourne 8002. Entries close 5pm, 19 August. Winners will be notified by phone or email by 21 August. Terms & conditions are on the community page at www.melbournefc.com.au
  When: Sunday, 30 August, 2.10pm
  Where: MCG - Brunton Avenue, East Melbourne
  
  
• Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia Voluntary Guided Tours: Melbourne Focus - FREE at Federation Square. More info, National Gallery of Victoria website
  
  
• FREE entry Enterprize, Melbourne's tall ship - Enterprize will be open to the public at Waterfront City, Docklands. Take advantage of a free tour and learn what life was like aboard this famous schooner. Tours available: 9am to 5pm Waterfront City, Docklands.
  
  
• Things to see and do - many organisations and city attractions are getting behind the celebrations and offering Melbourne Day family specials. A full list is available at thatsmelbourne.com.au.

2009 Melburnian of the Year: Prahran mother and founder of the Lighthouse Foundation Susan Barton is the 2009 Melburnian of the Year. Presented with the award by Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, Ms Barton was recognised for supporting the youth of Melbourne.

Where Melbourne was founded

Enterprize Park on the Yarra's north bank near Melbourne Aquarium is where Melbourne's first settlers landed from the schooner Enterprize on
30 August 1835 and started to build a settlement.

The settlers were led by Captain John Lancey. The landing party included builder George Evans, carpenters William Jackson and Robert Hay Marr, blacksmith Charles Wise and his wife Mary, and Evan Evans,
a servant to George Evans.

A commemorative plaque, left, was unveiled in August 2002.