Hume and Hovell expedition

The Hume and Hovell expedition is one of the most important journeys of explorations undertaken in eastern Australia.

In 1824, the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane, commissions Hamilton Hume and former Royal Navy Captain William Hovell to lead an expedition to find new grazing land in the south of the colony, and also to find an answer to the mystery of where New South Wales's western rivers flow.Surveyor General John Oxley asserts that no river could fall into the sea between Cape Otway and Spencer's Gulf, and that the country south of parallel of 34 degrees is 'uninhabitable and useless for all purposes of civilised men,' and for the time exploration in this direction is greatly discouraged.

In 1824, newly appointed governor Sir Thomas Brisbane, who disbelieves this statement, offers to land a party of prisoners near Wilson's Promontory and grant them a free pardon, as well as a grant of land, to those who find their way overland to Sydney.

Mr. Alexander Berry recommends the Governor to secure the services of Mr. Hume to lead the exploring party.

Mr. Hume declines to undertake that task but instead offers, if supplied with men and horses, to go from Lake George to Bass Straits.

This is not carried out, but shortly afterwards, Mr. Hume and Captain W. H. Hovell, of Minto, agree together to undertake an expedition in that direction.

They find men and horses and bullocks; the Government furnishes them with pack saddles, tarpaulins, tent, arms, ammunition, and skeleton charts.

As the two leaders each possess special qualifications, it is not unreasonably counted that their association will be highly advantageous.

However, the two men, regarding one another as rivals, quarrel at the start, wranglethroughout the entire journey, and will maintain a bitter feud until death.

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