Hamilton Hume's Discoveries

The Sydney Morning Herald

3 September 1912

Exploring Days Recalled.

Hamilton Hume's Discoveries. Goulburn, Monday. Mr. Wm. Donald, a resident of Goulburn, has been able to furnish the people of Bungonia, who are contemplating celebrating the centenary of the visit of Hamilton Hume and party, with some facts. Mr. Donald quotes from a brief statement of facts published in 1855, while Mr. Hume was still living.

In August, 1814, Mr. Hume (then 17 years of age), accompanied by his late brother, John Kennedy Hume, and a black boy, a native of Appin, started on an exploring journey, and discovered the country around what is now Known as Berrima, or Bong Bong (The native name given to the rivulet and adjoining meadows was Tooma-boong.)

In March, 1817, Governor Macquarie requested Mr. Hume to accompany Mr. Surveyor Meehan and Dr. Throsby to the new country, as it was then termed.

After reaching a place called by the natives Carn, on the Shoalhaven River, not far from Bungonia, Dr. Throsby left the party, and in company with a black boy of the Shoalhaven tribes, made his way to Jervis Bay.

Mr. Hume accompanied Mr. Meehan, and they discovered Lake Bathurst, Goulburn Plains, etc.

It was on his return from this journey that Mr. Hume received an order for 100 acres of land in Appin.

Mr.Donald knew the late Mr. Stephen Collyer, who was overseer for Mr. Hume on his farm at Appin, and obtained from him many interesting stories of early settlement.