Settlement History
Cranbourne Meteorites Were Found in CLYDE!

In 1854 considerable scientific interest was aroused in the Cranbourne and Clyde districts upon the discovery of several meteorites.

Close examination of these masses by early settlers led them to believe the area was a rich deposit of iron. Alexander Cameron, at a Conference arranged in Melbourne to discuss the desirability of constructing a railway from Melbourne to the Cape Paterson coal fields, urged the Conference to consider passing the rail line through Cranbourne so that the iron ore   deposit could be exploited. However it was soon realized that they were meteorites, three all told.

In 1853 Cranbourne No. 2 was located on the property of James and Charlotte Lineham and was smaller than No. 1. Cranbourne No. 1 is the largest meteorite to have been found in Australia and was forwarded to the British Museum in 1865 where it appears in the meteorite collection. Meanwhile Lineham sold No.2 to A.R. Abel, assayer of Ballarat and Karl Rupprecht quickly arranged its transport. The meteorite was loaded onto a bullock wagon and transported to Melbourne where it was first displayed at the Sabloniene Hotel, Queen Street (owned by Rupprecht) and later at the Melbourne Exhibition in 1861. In 1862 it was shipped to London for the International Exhibition.

Susannah Lineham, who was about 11 years old at the time remembered how the  Aborigines cried when the meteorite was taken away from Clyde. In later life she told this story to her granchildren
Glenda Tait and Jean Hermon

Cranbourne No.2 was bought from Abel for £800 while it was in England and it was returned to Melbourne and presented to the National Museum.