Hume & Hovell Print Page

The cairn commemorates Hume and Hovell who passed through the area in 1824. The cairn was unveiled in 1924 the centenary year of the event. 

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.

HUME AND HOVELL CENTENARY. At the Melbourne committee rooms, on Friday, the committee in charge of the centenary celebrations of the Hume and Hovell explorations met to discuss the time-table for the unveiling of monuments along the route followed by the two pioneers. After much discussion, it was agreed that, with the co-operation of the Royal Automobile Club, the route followed would be as follows:— Starting from Bright on Sunday, 16th November, they will unveil a tablet at the foot of Mount Buffalo. On Monday they will proceed via Myrtleford, Whorouly, Everton, Murmungee, and Stanley, staying at Beechworth overnight. Tuesday’s program covers Back Creek, Allen’s Flat, Staghorn Flat, Ebden and Bethanga. Tuesday evening and Wednesday will be spent at Albury, where a sports meeting and concert have been arranged. At Wangaratta the party will divide, the main party proceeding to Benalla, where a civic reception has been arranged. They will proceed through to Violet Town, Euroa, Avenel and Seymour. The remainder will proceed via Hedi, Hansonville, Samaria, and Swanpool to Merton. On the Friday this second party will travel from Avenel through Bonnie Doon and Yarck to Yea. The parties will re-unite at Broadford on the Friday and proceed to Melbourne. Sir J. Barrett (chairman) said the Education Department has arranged demonstrations by school children at all places included in the itinerary, and was making special efforts to interest the children in the history and development of the districts traversed by the explorers.
Upper Murray and Mitta Herald (Vic.), 25 September 1924.

An exquisite spot was selected for the site of the memorial at Allan's Flat. It is situated at the cross-roads below J. Miller's, and marks the site of the explorers' camp on November 22nd, 1824. The cairn is built of concrete on a six feet square base, and stands 12 feet high. Inset is a marble tablet containing a suitable inscription. On all sides can be seen a vast panorama of hills, plains and bush. To the north is plainly visible the pass through which the explorers` had come; and to the south is the break in the range which was their objective: whilst far off can be seen Mt. Buffalo which the explorers' named several days later.

Cr Hodgson welcomed the visitors and gave a brief outline of the route travelled by the explorers' through this district. Mr Gates, Secretary of the Central Committee, spoke on the progress of the nation and the work done by the explorers' and early pioneers', and emphasized the advantages of nationalisation. Mr Hansford, of the Lands Department, gave a brief outline of the route taken by the explorers' from the Murray to the sea. He also gave an interesting description of the difficulties the explorers' had to contend with on the journey. "There could be no more beautiful spot for a memorial than this," said Sir James Barrett as he unveiled the Cairn. He congratulated the local committee on the site selected and the memorial they had built.  H. Beardmore, M.L.A., moved a hearty vote of thanks to the visiting and local committees', which was seconded by Mr Greenwood. Light refreshments were then served and fruit and lollies distributed amongst the children, after which all returned home mindful of the deeds of the two great men of 100 years ago.
Yackandandah Times (Vic), 21 November 1924.

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