Curio

State Library of New South Wales
H Hume's sketch of a tour performed by W H Hovell and himself from Lake George to Port Phillip, Bass's Straits

H Hume's sketch of a tour performed by W H Hovell and himself from Lake George to Port Phillip, Bass's Straits

1824-25
Manuscript map
Bequest of Sir William Dixson, 1952
DL SAFE/Cb 82/24

This map is thought to have been drawn by Thomas Mitchell, who would have recently arrived in the colony to work as the assistant surveyor-general. The map appears to be based on an original made by Hume during the journey on a skeleton map provided by the governor, or was copied from such a copy. It is the work of a professional draftsman, working rather quickly.

The map shows the route taken by Hume and Hovell from Hume’s property near Gunning in NSW to and from Port Phillip. As noted on the map, the journey was made ‘at their own expense in the years 1824 and 1825 through the request of Sir Thomas Brisbane’. Unusually, the map is oriented with south at the top.

This map was among some of Thomas Livingston Mitchell's papers, which were owned by Mitchell’s grandson. He passed the papers on to Sir William Dixson.

Hovell records that they took on the expedition, ‘640 lbs. [pounds]  flour, 200 lbs. pork, 100 lbs. sugar, 14 lbs. tea, 8 lbs. tobacco, 12 lbs. soap, salt, coffee, etc., etc., etc., for myself and three men, together with a musket and ammunition for each man. This is exclusively for ourselves, as Mr. Hume has supplied (as I understand) the same quantity.’*


Footnotes

* Journal of William Hovell, 2 October 1824, State Library collection, Safe 1 / 32d

In 1828 Governor Darling attached Hamilton Hume to Charles Sturt's expedition to the Macquarie River area of western NSW. The party reached the Darling River. On this trip Hume showed his ability to work well and enthusiastically under a man he liked and respected. They became lifelong friends.