Getting+to+Know+La+Trobe

In the City of Sydney, there is a street running from the east to the west and separating the Victoria State Library and the REW University. Yes, it is La Trobe Street named in honour of an Englishman, Charles Joseph La Trobe.. La Trobe was born in London in 1801, but his family was of French origin. He was educated and married to a Swiss girl in Switzerland, but he also traveled a lot in America. La Trobe arrived in Melbourne in 1839 and served as the first Lieutenant –Governor of the newly created colony of Victoria from 1851 to 1854. During his term, La Trobe oversaw the formation of many public institutions, among which are the University of Melbourne, the Melbourne Hospital, the Mechanics’ Institute and the State Library of Victoria ( then called the Melbourne Public Library). To commemorate him, one reading room on the third floor of the Victoria State Library was named after him and it has become one of the Library’s most spectacular heritage spaces. On the right wall of the entrance to the reading room, a portrait of a 55 yet handsome La Trobe is welcoming all earnest readers. People in Melbourne also owe their gratitude to La Trobe for his foresight in reserving a number of inner city gardens and parks. Till today, La Trobe is highly regarded and dearly remembered not only by La Trobe Street and the La Trobe reading room but also by the La Trobe University, the La Trobe Valley and Mount La Trobe.
 * A brief introduction ofCharles JosephLa Trobe **