About this objectMitchell’s Monument is located on the crossroads of the Escort Way (to Forbes) and Henry Parkes Way (to Parkes), 30 kms north west of Orange. The monument is a very tidy stacked rock cairn which has been concreted on the inside, so only rock is showing from the face.
The monument is square, reducing in size to the main section and then reducing to a pyramid to the top. A white marble tablet is engraved with the inscription, inlaid with lead lettering, on the eastern side of the monument. The monument was unveiled in November 1936 and was a joint project of Boree Shire Council and the Royal Australian Historical Society.
The marble tablet is inscribed with:
FROM THIS VICINITY SIR THOMAS MITCHELL’S SECOND EXPEDITION PROCEEDED ON APRIL 7. 1835 TO THE DARLING RIVER, HIS THIRD EXPEDITION ON MARCH 19, 1836 TO AUSTRALIA FELIX (WESTERN VICTORIA), AND HIS FOURTH EXPEDITION ON DECEMBER 15. 1845 TO TROPICAL AUSTRALIA (CENTRAL QUEENSLAND) R.A.H.S.
It is of historic significance to not only the local area but also to Australia as it marks the location where surveyor and early European explorer, Thomas Mitchell, had his base before leaving for his 2nd, 3rd & 4th expeditions inland.
The site also has connections with local pioneering families around Boree-Cabonne and also the local Boree Aboriginal group. Other associated significant locations, including Yuranigh’s Grave, Molong, and the Evan’s/Oxley’s monument, Eugowra, also tie into the early exploration of the area.
