Commander Dance was granted 5000 acres at Swan. Went to India in 1831 for supplies for the Colony. Took Governor Stirling back to England to plead case for settlers. Mrs Helen Dance chopped down the tree to mark the 'Birth of Perth' on 12 August 1829. The laying of the first stone of the town (which took place on 12th of August, and on which occasion we made as much noise and rejoicing as our limited means would allow) was laid by Mrs Dance, she being the only lady who could be persuaded to venture so far into a savage country. It seems strange that just four weeks after the foundation of Perth, Captain Dance could not recall whether his wife chose to use a stone or a tree to mark the occasion. The Dance's remained in the colony for three years and during that time the commander and his men were employed in exploration and providing assistance to the struggling colonists.