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First European Exploration of Western New South WalesPrint Page Print this page

01-May-2015
01-May-2015

Photographs supplied by Chris McLaughlin / Arthur Garland

The cairn commemorates the first European exploration of western New South Wales by John Oxley, Evans and party in 1817.  The cairn also marks the site of the grave of the prehistoric chief of the Calara Tribe.

The Mayor of Forbes (Alderman J. J. Patterson) journeyed to Condobolin on Wednesday last to represent this district at the unveiling of the monument to mark the discovery by Explorer Oxley on the 29th July, 1814, of some interesting aboriginal relics about 20 miles below Condobolin. Railway Superintendent Milne, of Orange, was mainly instrumental in having this memorial erected.
Forbes Times (NSW), 31 July 1914.

Location

Address:Lachlan Valley Way, Goobothery Hill, 1.5 kilometres east of Kiacatoo Road, Kiacatoo, 2877
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -33.070841
Long: 146.790171
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:Landscape
Sub-Theme:Exploration
Actual Event Start Date:29-July-1817
Actual Event End Date:29-July-1817

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Wednesday 29th July, 1914
Front Inscription

                     This Cairn
          Was Erected By Order Of
THE HONOURABLE W. H. HOLMAN
              Premier Of This State
                  To Commemorate
            The First Exploration Of 
      WESTERN NEW SOUTH WALES 
       Explorers Oxley, Evans And Party
           Camped Close To This Site :
                July 29th 1817 :

Also The Discovery Of The Grave Of A 
Prehistoric Chief Of The Calara Tribe
     Of Aborigines On This Spot.
According To Tribal Tradition, The Chief
Was Drowned In An Attempt To Cross The 
Lachlan River Whilst It Was In High Flood. 
The Carved Posts Bear Exact Facsimiles
Of The Aboriginal Arborclyphs Carved On
Two Cypress Pine Trees Which Grew Where
The Posts Now Stand.

The Hon. T. Brown, M.L.A.  Lachlan Electorate
D. M. Menzies.                     President of Lachlan Shire
Thos. B. Watson.                 Mayor of Condoblin.
                     July 29th 1914.

Plaque :

This Memorial was 
     unveiled by 
the Honourable JOHN ESTELL M.L.A. 
Minister for Labour and Industry
 July 29th 1914

Plaque :

This Spot Was Located By 
Railway Superintendent E. Milne  
S. J. Waite. J.P, -  O. L. May, 
H. F. May, - And T. Richards -
       July 21st 1913

Source: MA, H
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au