Gippsland - monuments on the route
South Expedition by P. E. Strzelecki
In the mid-1920s the Victorian Historical Memorials Committee decided to glorify Paul de Strzelecki with a chain of historical cairns for his the South Expedition expedition in 1840 by Gippsland. The Melbourne-based committee directed the design and placement of the cairns and asked local groups for organisational support.
In April 1927, the committee and the Governor, Lord Somers, toured Gippsland to unveil the cairns.
In order of occurrence reconstructed route of the expedition, erected seven cairns or tablets memorial are located in towns: Hayfield, Loy Yang (Traralgon), Koornalla, Mariboo North, Leongatha, Korumburra & Corinella.
In the article „Gippsland Explorers. Governor’s Tour”, The Argus, 11 April 1927 p. 8 writes …
…It is not clear when the dedication to Charlie Tarra and the rest of Strzelecki’s party was added to the Corinella cairn. Originally plaque on the monument was reportedly installed only with the names of James Riley and Strzelecki.
One commemorative tablet plaque unveiled in 1988 is also in East Maitland (NSW).
We thanks to the Admin of the website visitcorinella.com for the uploaded on monument to Strzelecki plaque in Corinella.
If you can complete brief descriptions and photographs of individual monuments, please e-mail us -
Heyfield
The first European contact in the area was made by Paul Strzelecki in 1840 and later Angus McMillan - when they crossed the Thomson River near present Heyfield.
Click picture on right - see photo
In „The Age” (Melbourne) 7 April 1927 we can read a mention…
… The memorial cairn erected to the memory of Strzelecki was unveiled this by Lord Somers, in the presence of one of the largest dithering ever seen in Heyfield.
He said: „This was the first memorial erected to Strzelecki, and described his travels, the abandonment of his horses, and his final arrival at Westernport on foot, practically without food.”
GPS Coordinates: Lat: -37.984344 / Long: 146.783044
- Click picture on bottom - see photo -
_ Read also below - Mirboo North txt _
Mirboo North
The Strzelecki Monument at Mirboo North is located on the north side of Ridgeway in Baromi Park, constructed by Tom Nilan in 1927.
The commemorative plaque indicating the explorers passage through the area in April 1840, is in white marble with incised letters.
Click picture on left - see photo
Was officially unveiled by the Governor, Lord Somers, on 8 April, 1927.
The Cairn was originally located at the intersection of Ridgway and the Strzelecki Highway (Thorpdale Road) opposite St Mary's Anglican Church and was relocated to its present site in February, 1972 as a result of road widening works.
In 1994 a threat by Shire of Mirboo to have it demolished resulted in a public outcry, and it was saved following a public meeting.
GPS Coordinates: Lat: -38.400827 / Long: 146.156558
Leongatha
The Strzelecki Memorial at Leongatha was constructed by Jas. Palmer to the design of James T Knox. It was officially unveiled by the Governor, Lord Somers, on 8 April, 1927 in the presence of local schoolchildren and residents, and guests.
A bronze plaque on the east side commemorates Strzelecki’s passage through South Gippsland „Count Strzelecki. First Explorer of South Gippsland passed within 10 miles of this spot May 1840”.
A drinking fountain is located above a small projecting trough below the plaque.
GPS Coordinates: Lat: -38.478369 / Long: 145.949063
- Click picture on bottom - see photo -
_ Read also below - Korumburra txt _
Warragul - Korumburra
The Memorial to P. E. Strzelecki at Korumburra, designed by the Korumburra Shire Engineer, Mr Horsfall and constructed in 1927 at the intersection of the Old Bena Korumburra Road and Warragul Road.
Was officially unveiled by the Governor, Lord Somers, on 9 April 1927.
It is a simple roughly constructed tapered square column of split bluestone pitcher quoins and coursed bluestone rubble on a square base, with battered sides and a pyramidal top.
A bronze plaque on the east side commemorates Strzelecki’s passing near this place in May 1840 „Count Strzelecki, first explorer, South Gippsland passed this spot May 1840. Erected 1927”.
GPS Coordinates: Lat: -38.412716 / Long: 145.80937
Koornalla
The Memorial erected in 1927 commemorates Paul Edmund de Strzelecki who passed by this spot in 1840.
An additional plaque and relief portrait was donated by the Polish Association of the Latrobe Valley and unveiled on 1966 by Councillor E.A. Farmer President of the Shire of Traralgon.
The relief portrait of Strzelecki was sculpted by A.Santowiak.
Have we received here a few pictures from Tad
GPS Coordinates: Lat: -38.329559 / Long: 146.528669
- Click picture on bottom - see photo -
_ Read also below - Loy Yang (Traralgon East) _
Loy Yang (near Traralgon East)
The cairn erected in 1927 commemorates Paul Edmund de Strzelecki who passed by this spot in 1840.
The Strzelecki monument in Traralgon had been previously restored in 1966 and unveiled by Sir Herbert Hyland on 10th July, with the addition of a new plaque and a relief portrait of Strzelecki that was sculpted by Arthur Santowiak and donated by the Polish Association of the Latrobe Valley.
An historic monument acknowledging the path of one of Gippsland’s first explorers has been preserved for future generations as part of the duplication of the Princes Highway East.
GPS Coordinates: Lat: -38.186541 / Long: 146.586934
Corinella
Corinella - Monument, located at the end of Smythe St. in Corinella Foreshore Caravan Park.
A memorial commemorates the arrival of expedition Paul Edmund de Strzelecki to the Settlement 12nd of May 1840 during his overland expedition from the Murrumbidgee River in New South Wales through Omeo and Gippsland to Melbourne.
The inscription on the bronze plaque was revised (no date information available) to include the name of their Aboriginal guide Charlie Tarra (spelt Tara on the upper plaque) whose knowledge and hunting ability saved the party from starvation.
GPS Coordinates: Lat: -38.408478 / Long: 145.420697
_ Read also below - East Maitland _
East Maitland (NSW)
A monument commemorates Paul Edmund Strzelecki the explorer, scientist and philanthropist.
Erected by the Polish Community in appreciation of his contribution to Australia`s exploration, discoveries and immigration.
Unveiled by its President Feliks J. Dangel B.E.M. J.P. on the 3rd of May 1988.
GPS Coordinates: Lat: -32.7478 / Long: 151.582767
