Major Thomas Mitchell Print Page

The cairn commemorates Major Thomas Mitchell's passing through the district in 1836 during his exploration of Australia Felix. The cairn was unveiled during the centenary year of his visit. 

At the unveiling of the Bulla memorial for Hume and Hovell,Charles Daley the Secretary of the Victorian Historical Society suggested that the idea be extended to other explorers and a committee was formed to mark out the routes of Charles Sturt, Thomas Mitchell, Angus McMillan, and Count Paul de Strzelecki.

Thirty-five cairns or tablets to Mitchell were erected at Nyah West, Swan Hill, Cohuna, Mount Pyramid, Fernihurst, Wedderburn, Kanya, Stawell, Mount William, Horsham, Mount Arapiles, Miga Lake, Harrow, Coleraine, Casterton, Dartmoor, Isle of Bags, Portland, Mount Rouse, Mount Napier, Hamilton, Lake Repose, Dunkeld, Middle Creek, Mount Greenock, Mitchellstown, Nagambie, Castlemaine, Expedition Pass, Kyneton, Benalla, Wangaratta, Chiltern, Gooramadda and a public park at Natimuk (Major Mitchell Park, Mount Arapiles, Natimuk).

The cairn was unveiled by Mr C.R.Long who performed the ceremony as the representative of the Historical Memorials Committee. The Cohuna Cairn was constructed with granite from Mount Hope. The cairn also marked the district where Major Mitchell made the decision to turn south and discovered new fertile country for colonisation. Major Mitchell was the first white man to pass over the site of Cohuna.
The Argus, 25th June 1936.

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