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Map of Journey : (State Library of Victoria : Maps 820.5 AT 1824 – 1825)
Map of Journey : (State Library of Victoria : Maps 820.5 AT 1824 – 1825)

Photographs supplied by Kent Watson

The monument commemorates the explorers Hume and Hovell who crossed and named the Ovens River in 1824. The monument was unveiled in 1924, the centenary year of the exploration. 

In 1824, Hamilton Hume and William Hovell led an expedition of discovery to find new grazing land for the colony. They and their party trekked south from Appin to Lake George, then on into Victoria, keeping west of the Great Dividing Range and ending up at Corio Bay, on the Victorian coast, where present day Geelong is situated. Hovell mistakenly believed they had arrived at Westernport, and did not realise his mistake until after his return.

At the centenary of Hume and Hovell exploration in 1924 a committee was formed to co-ordinate and organise local celebrations along the route from Albury to Corio Bay. An itinerary was created for the unveiling ceremonies giving the hour and date for each place concerned from 15 to 21 November 1924. 

Monuments, cairns or plaques commemorating this expedition were erected at Allan`s Flat, Avenel, Back Creek, Barjarg, Bellbridge, Broadford, Bulla, Deer Park, Ebden, Euroa, Everton, Hansonville, Hume Reservoir, Kilmore, Lara, Lima South, Meadow Creek, Molyullah, Mount Buffalo, Moyhu, Murmungee, Myrtleford, Samaria, Samaria West, Seymour, Staghorn Flat, St Albans, Stanley, Strath Creek, Swanpool, Tatong (Dodd`s Crossing), Violet Town, Warrenbayne West, Werribee, Whorouly, Woodfield Yarck and Yea.

The location of the plaques erected at Lima South is unknown.  It is believed that the plaque at Hansonville has come from another location as the date on the plaque does not match the date that the expedition was there.

Location

Address:Memorial Park Drive, Whorouly Recreation Reserve, Whorouly, 3735
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -36.507179
Long: 146.587909
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Exploration
Actual Event Start Date:25-November-1824
Actual Event End Date:25-November-1824
Link:https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/h…

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Monday 17th November, 1924
Front Inscription

Hume and Hovell first named and crossed the Ovens River near this spot

25th Nov 1824

Erected Nov. 1924

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