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Thomas Mitchell : 14-May-2013
Thomas Mitchell : 14-May-2013

Photographs supplied by Graeme Saunders

The monument commemorates Surveyor General Major Mitchell who camped at the site and named the creek Violet Creek on October 11, 1836. 

Australia Felix (Latin for "fortunate Australia" or "happy Australia") was an early name given by Thomas Mitchell to lush pasture in parts of western Victoria he explored in 1836 on his third expedition. On this expedition Mitchell was instructed to travel to Menindee, then down the Darling River to the sea, if it flowed there; or, if it flowed into the Murray River to go up the Murray to the inhabited parts of the colony.

However lack of water forced Mitchell to follow the Lachlan River to the south-west as the only practicable route. He reached the Murrumbidgee on 12 May and followed it to the Murray. At the end of May, Mitchell reached the Darling and turned north upstream. He soon decided, while still about 200 km (120 mi) in a direct line from Menindee, to abandon the survey of the deserts around the Darling and to use his resources to explore the more promising country along the Murray.

Retracing his steps Mitchell went up the Murray until 20 June when he reached the junction of the Loddon where the country seemed so promising that he turned south-west into what is now Victoria and was so enchanted by the area he called it “Australia Felix”. The reports of excellent farming land from Mitchell's return to Sydney with the news, started a land rush. 

Location

Address:High Street, Honeysuckle Creek Bridge, Violet Town, 3669
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -36.637414
Long: 145.726328
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Exploration
Actual Event Start Date:11-October-1836
Actual Event End Date:11-October-1836

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Saturday 11th October, 1986
Front Inscription

Shire of Violet Town

This stone commemorates that Major T. L. Mitchell Surveyor General camped here on 11th October 1836 during his "Australia Felix" Expedition.

He named the stream Violet Creek

This tablet was unveiled by G. Eccleston who originally surveyed the route.

D. W. Dixon,       Shire Engineer;
Cr A. Burnside,  Shire President;
J. R. Kyle           Shire Secretary.

11th October 1986

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