Sesquicentenary of Major Thomas Mitchell 4th ExpeditionPrint Page

The Moondi shelter shed commemorates the sesqui-centenary of the fourth expedition of Major (Sir) Thomas Mitchell.   It is at the campsite where Sir Thomas Mitchell camped in 1846 on his expedition to map an overland route from Sydney to Port Essington (Darwin). A time capsule was also laid at the site. 

To reach the campsite turn left 35 kilometres north of Mitchell along the Forest Vale Road. The shed is approximately 2.5 kilometres off the Forest Vale Road. 

In 1846 Major Sir Thomas Mitchell was the first European to see the Maranoa River. On his fourth major expedition of exploration he established a major camp site, the second depot of that expedition, on the Maranoa River. The site, now known as Mitchell Water Reserve, is some 40 kilometres north of Mitchell. Major Mitchell arrived there with an advance party on 18 May 1846, and the main party under Edmund Kennedy arrived on 1 June 1846.

Mitchell left Kennedy in charge of the camp and departed northwards on 4 July 1846. He reached the Belyando River, then turned south-west and named the Victoria River in the mistaken idea that it ran to the north. Later Kennedy found the Victoria River was the Barcoo River. Mitchell arrived back at this camp on October 14 and on October 17 all departed to the south.

Location

Address:	Major Mitchell Road, via Forestvale Road, Mitchell, 4465
State:	QLD
Area:	AUS
GPS Coordinates:	Lat: -26.21234 Long: 147.91671 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.

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Details

Monument Type:	Structure
Monument Theme:	Landscape
Sub-Theme:	Exploration
Approx. Event Start Date:	1846
Approx. Event End Date:	1996

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:	Saturday 18th May, 1996

Source: MA, ADB