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New Range Discovered (Darling's
Causeway) The Monitor, Sydney 17 December 1827 |
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The following Letter says much for that enterprising explorer Mr. Hume.
Sir, I beg to inform you, that a few days ago, I returned from my second tour
to Bathurst, which was for the purpose of pointing out the new line of road I
had discovered to that settlement. (by order of His Excellency the Governor)
to the undermentioned gentlemen, viz: Lieut. Wilford, Surveyor of roads;
Major Mitchell, Deputy Surveyor General; Mr. White, Assistant Surveyor; and
Lieut. Shadforth, all of whom approved of the
proposed new track. The range I discovered, leads off about 3 or 4 miles on this side of
Mount York, in a N. W. direction: - it is the main leading range of that part
of the country, and is in general very even, lightly timbered, and is
composed of good materials for making a road. - It is the dividing ridge
between the eastern and western waters. The waters running from the east side of this range, form the principal
sources of Grose River, and the second branch of
the Hawkesbury; and those on the west side, lead into Cox's River and the Toorien, [Turon] which river
runs towards Mudjee. The western side of this range, in general, terminates abruptly in
perpendicular cliffs of coarse sand-stone, but eastward, the descent is very
gradual. Finding this range to be the main one, and easy
of access, and forming a good passage round (or I may say between) so many
streams, and completely avoiding all the difficulties the present road
abounds with between Mount York and Bathurst, I named it "Darling's Causeway," in
consequence of its being discovered during General Darling's Administration,
and my going out under His Excellecy's patrionage. I succeeded in discovering three passes off this range (Darling Causeway)
which is a continuation of Mount York Range, northward of the forest country
about the sources of Cox's River:- the first of
which is through "Lithgow's Valley"
about 10 or 12 miles whence I turned off the present road to Bathurst leading
in a direction for "O'Connell's
Plains," and leaving the Fish River, and Mount Evans, (or Evans'
Crown) a little to the south. The other two tracts pass near "Wallerawong" (the
residence of Mr.Walker): - one is about 4 miles
north of that gentleman's farm, and crosses a new line of road (lately
discovered) leading towards "Mudjee:" the other is to the S.E of Mr. Walkers, and
leads into a line of roads proposed by Mr. M'Brien,
from Collet's Inn to Bathurst, and which was
approved of by Sir Thomas Brisbane. I am, Sir, your obedient
Servant, Hamilton Hume, Appin, 10th Dec. 1827 |