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Original Memorial Site: 08-December-2013
Original Memorial Site: 08-December-2013

Photographs supplied by John Huth / Peter F Williams

The compass stand from the first H.M.A.S. Sydney which destroyed the German raider Emden was erected to mark the spot where Surveyor-General John Oxley camped on his arrival at Port Macquarie.

As part of the John Oxley Bicentenary in 2018 the memorial was rejuvenated and removed to a new site in Stewart Street. The memorial now features the original compass stand and plaque with two additional plaques placed on either side of the memorial. 

Tuesday next, 8th inst, will be the 111th anniversary of the arrival of Surveyor-General John Oxley at Port Macquarie, after his journey of exploration from Bathurst, via Liverpool Plains, over the New England Range and down the Hastings River. The day has been suitably taken by the Municipal Council for the unveiling of the memorial being erected to mark the spot where Oxley camped, which, from his journal, can be definitely located as above the men's surf shed.

The actual memorial itself consists of a concrete block, in which is set a marble slab, suitably inscribed, and mounted on this slab is the compass stand from the bridge of H.M.A.S. Sydney, which achieved everlasting fame as the destroyer of the German raider Emden. This compass stand in itself is, and will be, of very great historic value, and the Council is to be congratulated on this "killing of two birds with one stone." The unveiling will take place at 3 p.m., and it is expected that many visitors of note will attend the function in response to the invitations sent out. It is to be hoped that there will be a good muster of local residents to do honour to the memory of the actual discoverer of our town.
Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate (NSW),  
5 October 1929.

 

Location

Address:Stewart Street near Owen Street, Town Beach, Port Macquarie, 2444
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -31.43051
Long: 152.919588
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Technology
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Exploration
Actual Event Start Date:08-October-1818
Actual Event End Date:08-October-1818
Link:http://adb.anu.edu.au/

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Tuesday 8th October, 1929
Front Inscription

Compass Stand From Bridge Of H.M.A.S. Sydney,
Which Destroyed The German Raider Emden At
Cocos Island On 9th November 1914.

     Erected To Mark The Spot
Where Surveyor General John Oxley
Camped On His Arrival At Port Macquarie
On 8th October 1818, After His Expedition From 
Bathurst, Down The Macquarie River, Over The 
New England Range, And Down The Hastings River

Unveiled 8th October 1929
                                          A. C. Elliott
                                          Mayor.

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