THE DISCOVERY OF GIPPS LAND.

To the Editor of the Argus.

Also on this page

JAMES McARTHUR - letter to the editor.

Sir — I observe in your valuable journal of yesterday an account of the entertainment lately given to Mr. McMillan, as the discoverer of Gipp's Land.

Without wishing in the slightest degree to detract from or diminish the credit due to that gentleman for his exertions as one of the first explorers, I feel that I have also some right to claim a share at least in the explorations which led to the successful occupation of that fine district.
The discovery of Gipps Land

In the winter of the year 1839 I accompanied my friend Captain Harding, then in command of H.M.S. Pelorus to Van Diemen's Land. Returning from Hobart Town to Sydney, our party on board was increased by the addition of my friend the late John Blaxland, jun., Esq., of Newington, New South Wales.

Passing the eastern end of Bass's Straits we encountered a very heavy N.E. gale, which lasted several days.
The bright beautiful weather that succeeded the gale found us driven far to the west of Cape Howe.

When running along the coast Mr. Blaxland and I both observed that the mountains receded considerably inland to-wards Wilson's Promontory, and we both agreed that it was likely that a valuable grazing country existed between the mountains and the coast.

I then determined to form an expedition from Sydney to explore the country between Omeo and Port Phillip.
On arriving in Sydney I met Count Strezlecki a scientific explorer of considerable experi-ence in other parts of the world ( and whose name has since been so honorably associated in the gratuitous distribution of the Irish relief fund ). I mentioned my intention to him, and he promised to join me whenever I was prepared.

I mentioned also my intention to my old friend Mr. Lachlan McAlister and from his with holding all information from me I have hitherto assumed that at that time he was really ignorant of the fine grazing country that his friend Mr. McMillan subsequently occupied with his (Mr. McAlister's) stock.

Mr. McMillan's actual dates, as published in your journal, and which I now learn for the first time, will leave our respective steps in the discovery of Gipps Land recorded beyond any further dispute.

My party consisted of Count Strezlecki, James Riley, Esq., now of Geelong, and myself, accompanied by two servants, and my abori-ginal black fellow named Charles Tarra, from Taralga, near Goulburn Plains.
The entire outfit of the expedition was borne principally by me, and cost me up-wards of £500.

Read more

We started from Ellerslie.

We started from Ellerslie on the afternoon of the 2nd March, 1840, and on the 26th March passed Mr. McAlister's station beyond Omeo Plains. Here we found Mr. McMillan absent, but received much kind attention and aid from young Mr. McAlister. From him we learned that Mr. McMillan had penetrated to a fine grazing country about a week pre-viously (in the direction we intended travel-ling), but the party had been obliged to re-turn for want of provisions.

Thus far Mr. McMillan had ascertained the existence of a grazing country : we occasion-ally saw his tracks up to our fording of the river Riley, on the 6th of April, beyond this point we saw no further trace of any party having preceded us.

On the 12th April we entered the beautiful plains called by Count Strezlecki after our mutual friend Colonel Barney. On the 15th April we left the open and entered the densely-wooded country, and struggled on till the 27th, when we were compelled to abandon our horses.
We then proceeded on our way, without provisions, except the Cholahswe shot, till the 12th May; on that day we reached the old settlement at Western Port.
We were there kindly entertained by a resident named Berry, Mr. Ross, now of Heidelberg, and Messrs. Massie and Anderson, then occupying that country. We remained some days at Western Port, regaining our exhausted strength, and then travelled on foot to Melbourne.

The result of our journey was immediately published, and a party started from Melbourne by sea to connect our exploration with Corner Inlet. I allowed Charles Tarra to accompany this expedition, and he subsequently returned through Gipps Land with Mr. Surveyor Townsend.
The discovery of Gipps Land 2

Mr. McMillan's dates are :
— First exploration reaching Mount McLeod, now the Haystack, on the 30th May, 1839. After many subsequent unsuccessful attempts, he started on the 9th February, 1841, and reached the old port on the 14th February. In the May following he succeeded in taking down a dray : a reference to the files of the Port Phillip Patriot will afford you any further information.
I furnish you with these particulars without the slightest wish to detract from the energy and perseverance displayed by Mr. McMillan.
At the same time I feel that I have the right of at least participating in the honor of exploration, and of having been the first, by publication of our discoveries, to open the immediate occupation of the important district of Gipps Land to the enterprise of the then infant colony of Victoria.
Source from: Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 14 March 1856

Cholah or native
bear, a species of sloth.