British colony on Australia's southeastern mainland, separated from the Colony of New South Wales on 1 July 1851 after the Port Phillip District's population and gold-rush wealth outgrew Sydney's administration; self-governing from 1855.
Federated into the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901 as the State of Victoria.
Single-volume standard history of Victoria from separation through the gold rushes, federation, and beyond, by Australia's best-known popular historian.