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Explorers Memorial : 20-September-2012
Explorers Memorial : 20-September-2012

Photographs supplied by Kent Watson / Roger Johnson / Bryan Hardy

The monument commemorates Burke and Wills, Major Mitchell and the captains of the first Murray paddle steamers which arrived in Swan Hill from South Australia in 1853.  The memorial was originally intended to be unveiled on the 12th September, 1914; the anniversary of the departure of the Burke and Wills expedition from Swan Hill in 1860.  

Swan Hill.
At a meeting of the explorers' memorial committee on Thursday night it was decided to invite Sir John Forrest, whose exploratory work in the early days of West Australia was of much value, to perform the unveiling of the memorial on 12th September, on the occasion of the anniversary of the departure from here of Burke and Wills in 1860. On 17th September, the anniversary of the arrival of the first steamer on the Murray River, under Capt Candall (sic) in 1853, will be celebrated. Prof C. R. Long, of the Historical Society, and members of the Victorian, New South Wales, and South Australian Government will be invited to attend the unveiling. The monument will cost about £150.
Ballarat Courier (Vic), 4 July 1914.

Location

Address:McCallum Street, Median Strip near Curlewis Street, Swan Hill, 3585
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -35.338374
Long: 143.560547
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:Landscape
Sub-Theme:Exploration

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Tuesday 27th October, 1914
Front Inscription

          On This Spot,
The Residents Of Swan Hill Bade
Farewell To The BURKE And WILLS
       Exploring Expedition
        12th Sept 1860

Left Side Inscription

An Expedition Under 
MAJOR MITCHELL
Camped Here, 20th June 1836
And He Named The Place Swan Hill

 

 

Back Inscription

Erected By Public Subscription
      12th Sept. 1914. 
          Unveiled By 
Right Hon Sir JOHN FORREST
        K.C.M.G.  P.C.
        27th Oct 1914. 
Neil Brown. President

 

 

Right Side Inscription

The First Steamers On The Murray
    The "Lady Augusta" 
(CAPTAIN FRANCIS CADELL)
   And The "Mary Ann" 
(CAPTAIN Wm R RANDELL)
Arrived Here From South Australia 
        17th Sept 1853.

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