[The death of Mr. Hamilton Hume] [25 April 1873]

[Editor: This untitled article about Hamilton Hume, the explorer, was published in The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 25 April 1873.]

[The death of Mr. Hamilton Hume]

The death of Mr. Hamilton Hume, at a very advanced age, has removed from us a man whose explorations of the interior date back to the year 1814; for it was then that he discovered the country around Berrima, one of the most fertile districts in New South Wales. Three years later, he signalised himself by the discovery of Lakes Bathurst and George; and received a grant of 300 acres of land, in recognition of the value of his services, from the Government.

In 1824 he undertook, in conjunction with Hovell, a retired shipmaster, the command of an expedition which was to find its way overland from Lake George to Western Port. He was the first European who set eyes on the Australian Alps, and before his time the Upper Murray and the Ovens had no existence on the map. The latter river received the name it still bears from the late Mr. Hume, by whom it was so called after his friend Major Ovens.

The Buffalo Ranges were also discovered and designated as such, by the deceased explorer; who found and named the Goulburn, King Parrot Creek — from a bird of magnificent plumage inhabiting the locality — and several other streams. Messrs. Hume and Hovell ascended the You Yangs, and discerned from them the present sites of Melbourne and Geelong, and having reached the waters of Port Phillip, which Hovell persisted in declaring were those of Western Port, the expedition returned overland to Lake George, the journey having occupied about three months.

Each of the leaders was rewarded by a grant of 1,200 acres of land; and it would be superfluous to enlarge upon the value and extent of the territory thus opened up.

Mr. Hume’s discoveries of the country on this side of the Murray, preceded by 11 years the explorations of “Australia Felix” which were conducted by Major Mitchell, and were nine years earlier than the first visit of the Messrs. Henty to Portland Bay.

At the time of his decease Mr. Hume was in the 75th year of his age; and not long before his death he paid a visit to this city, and had an opportunity of witnessing the wonderful transformation which its site had undergone since his eye first ranged over its wooded eminences from the summit of the You Yangs, “when George IV. was king.”

Source:
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 25 April 1873, p. 5 (column 2)

Also published in various other newspapers, including:
Avoca Mail, and Landsborough, Moonambel, Redbank, Lexton, and St. Arnaud Advertiser (Avoca, Vic.), 29 April 1873, p. 2 (entitled “Hume, the explorer”)
The Mercury (Hobart Town, Tas.), 30 April 1873, p. 3 (entitled “Death of an Australian pioneer”)

Editor’s notes:
Australia Felix = the name given by Sir Thomas Mitchell (1792-1855) to a wide area he explored in Victoria (the name has been used to refer to western Victoria, western and central Victoria, and the whole of Victoria); (Latin) “fortunate Australia”, or “happy Australia” (“felix” may be translated as blessed, fortunate, happy, lucky, or successful)
See: “Australia Felix (maps)”, IAC list (on Trove)

Hamilton Hume = (1797-1873), explorer
See: 1) Stuart H. Hume, “Hume, Hamilton (1797–1873)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “Hamilton Hume”, Wikipedia

Henty = a family of pioneers, who were instrumental in the settling of Victoria by Europeans
See: 1) Marnie Bassett, “Henty, Thomas (1775–1839)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “Henty Brothers”, Wikipedia

Hovell = William Hilton Hovell (1786-1875), explorer
See: 1) T. M. Perry, “Hovell, William Hilton (1786–1875)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “William Hovell”, Wikipedia

Major Mitchell = Sir Thomas Mitchell (1792-1855), explorer, Surveyor General of New South Wales; he was born in Grangemouth (Stirlingshire, Scotland) in 1792, and died in Darling Point (Sydney, NSW) in 1855
See: 1) D. W. A. Baker, “Mitchell, Sir Thomas Livingstone (1792–1855)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “Thomas Mitchell (explorer)”, Wikipedia

Major Ovens = John Ovens (1788-1825), a British soldier, engineer, explorer, and aide-de-camp (and later private secretary) to Thomas Brisbane during Brisbane’s term (1821-1825) as Governor of New South Wales
See: 1) E. W. Dunlop, “Ovens, John (1788–1825)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “John Ovens”, Wikipedia

Messrs. = an abbreviation of “messieurs” (French), being the plural of “monsieur”; used in English as the plural of “Mister” (which is abbreviated as “Mr.”); the title is used in English prior to the names of two or more men (often used regarding a company, e.g. “the firm of Messrs. Bagot, Shakes, & Lewis”, “the firm of Messrs. Hogue, Davidson, & Co.”)

signalise = (also spelt: signalize) to stand out or be distinguished by a noteworthy or remarkable action or appearance; to draw attention to, to make conspicuous, to make known

[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]