Major Mitchell Trail (2,000km)

Imagine stepping into the footsteps of a pioneer, tracing a path carved through the heart of Victoria. The Major Mitchell Trail, a 2,000km network of signposts and markers, invites you to explore the very ground traversed by Major Thomas Mitchell and his expedition in 1836. This wasn't Mitchell's first foray into the Australian landscape. Earlier, tasked with charting the Darling River, he'd encountered both the challenges of the terrain and the complex relationship with the Aboriginal people, experiences that would shape his later journeys.

Mitchell's 1836 expedition, his third major survey, stands as a pivotal moment in Australian history. Crossing the Murray River near Swan Hill, he led a large party, including Aboriginal guides like the invaluable Piper, along with white explorers, convicts, horses, bullocks, sheep and a considerable number of carts. One can only imagine the sight of this extensive train moving across the landscape. Their mission: to map the course of the Darling, seeking fertile lands suitable for settlement.

The journey wasn't without its difficulties. While some encounters with First Australians were peaceful, others were marked by conflict, including a tragic ambush at Mt Dispersion. These events cast a shadow over Mitchell's endeavours, highlighting the complexities of exploration and its impact on the Indigenous population.

As the expedition pushed south-west, the landscape transformed. Mitchell meticulously documented the lush, river-fed country, a stark contrast to the arid interior he had previously mapped. He named this newfound region Australia Felix, believing he was the first European to set foot in this ‘sublime solitude’. This notion was soon dispelled upon reaching Portland Bay, where he encountered the Henty brothers, English squatters who had already established a thriving pastoral community. This meeting, while debunking Mitchell's claim, also marked the beginning of official European settlement in Victoria.

Mitchell's route took him through a variety of terrains, from Swan Hill to Mt Hope, Pyramid Hill, the rugged Grampians, and along the Glenelg River, before reaching the coast at Portland, taking in Fort O'Hare and Cape Nelson along the way. From Portland, the party turned north-east, eventually reaching Mt Macedon, where they glimpsed the smoke rising from Indigenous settlements near what is now Melbourne. From this vantage point, their journey turned north once more, back towards Sydney. Mitchell and his party crossed back into NSW in October 1836, four months after venturing south.

Today, the Major Mitchell Trail offers a unique opportunity to connect with this historical journey. As you hike, you'll be walking in the footsteps of explorers, encountering the diverse landscapes that captivated Mitchell and his team. It's a chance to experience the beauty of Victoria, while reflecting on the rich and sometimes complex history that has shaped it.