James Macarthur and Paul Edmund Strzelecki - Sydney to Mt. Kosciusko

Paul Edmund Strzelecki : In Australia 1839-43 | Stamps & Covers | In Australia (video) | W.B. Clarke | Eugene von Guerard print 1866 | William Macarthur 1856 |

1. Whose on first?

James Macarthur

During 1856 a controversy arose in Australia as to the claim of "discovery" of the Gippsland area of Victoria. Of course, in the light of 2026 rationality, the term is a bit of a joke, as the Indigenous Australians had lived in the country for at least 110,000 years, so therefore any process of "discovery" was tempered by this fact. It had already been done. Also, locally, various escaped convicts and others had entered lands outside of the settlements at Sydney and Melbourne during the immediate decades prior to government releasing the land for purchase or grant. So who was the first non-Indigenous person to "discover" the Gippsland? We will probably never know. However, two individuals who made claim at the time to some sort of recognition were ambitious free settlers James Macarthur and Angus McMillan. Both had explored the area and "settled" prior to official recognition of any claims. The dispute was minor, and eventually faded into history. In fact, Macarthur became more famous as a colleague of the Polish explorer and scientist Paul Edmund Strzelecki in his journey during 1840 to be the first non0Indigenous person to climb and name Australia's highest peak - Mount Kosciusko. This is referred to in his letter below from March 1856.

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2. Macarthur's letter 1856 

* Exploration of Gippsland, Stratford Sentinel and Briagolong Express, Victoria, 17 July 1914. Original letter written by James Macarthur (1798-1867) on 8 March 1856, in response to an article published the previous day in the Gippsland Guardian.

Exploration of Gippsland. 

By A'llah. 

A dinner was given in honor of Mr Angus McMillan, at Yarram, Gippsland, in 1856. at which he was pro- claimed the discoverer of Gippsland, this was reported on in the ARGUS the day after, and resulted in Mr James McArthur writing the following letter explanatory of the part he, in conjunction with the Polish Count Strezlecki, took in the discovery. The letter was as follows:— 

Sir, I observe in your valuable journal of yesterday an account of the entertainment lately given to Mr McMillan as the discoverer of Gippsland. 

Without wishing in the slightest degree to detract from or diminish the credit due to that gentleman for his exertions as one of the first explorers, I feel that I have some right to claim a share, at least, in the exploration which led to the successful occupation of that fine district. 

In the winter of the year 1839 I accompanied my friend, Captain Hording, then in command of H.M.S. Pelorus, to Van Dieman's Land. Returning from Hobart Town to Sydney, our party on board was increased by the addition of my friend the late John Blaxland, jun., Esq., of Newington, New South Wales. 

Passing the eastern end of Bass Strait we encountered a very heavy N.E. gale, which lasted several days. The bright, beautiful weather that succeeded the gale found us driven far to the west of Cape Howe. 

When running along the coast Mr Blaxland and I both observed that the mountains receded considerably inland towards Wilson's Promontory, and we both agreed that it was likely that a valuable grazing country existed between the mountains and the coast. 

I then determined to form an expedition from Sydney to explore the country between Omeo and Port Phillip. 

Arriving in Sydney I met Count Strezlecki, a scientific explorer of considerable experience in other parts of the world (and whose name has since been so honorably associated in the gratuitous distribution of the Irish relief fund). I mentioned my intention to him, and he promised to join me whenever I was prepared. 

I mentioned also my intention to my old friend, Mr Lachlan McAlister, and from his withholding all information from me, I have hitherto assumed that at that time he was really ignorant of the fine grazing country that his friend, Mr McMillan, subsequently occupied with his (Mr McAlister's) stock. 

Mr McMillan's actual dates, as published in your journal, and which I now learn for the first time, will leave our respective steps in the discovery of Gippsland recorded beyond any further dispute.  

My party consisted of Count Strezlecki, James Riley, Esq., now of Geelong, and myself, accompanied by two servants, and my aboriginal named Charles Tarra, from Taralga, near Goulburn Plains. 

The entire outfit of the expedition was born principally by me, and cost me upwards of £500. 

Mr Riley and I left Parramatta on the 17th January 1840, Count Strezlecki and his servant, with one pack- horse, joined us at Gunong, near Goulburn Plains, on the 5th February. 

We reached my stations near the Tumut on the 11th February, from thence I despatched a party overland to meet me in Melbourne, under the charge of Mr Hector McKay, now residing at Bacchus Marsh. 

We started from Ellerslie on the afternoon of the 2nd March, 1840, and on the 26th March passed Mr McAlister's Station beyond Omeo plains. Here we found Mr McMillan absent, but received much kind attention and aid from young Mr McAlister. 

From here we learned that Mr McMillan had penetrated to a fine grazing country about a week previously (in the direction we intended travelling), but the party had been obliged to return for want of provisions. 

Thus far Mr McMillan has ascertained the existence of a grazing country. We occasionally saw his tracks up to our fording of the river Riley, on the 6th April, beyond this point we saw no further trace of any party having preceded us. 

On the 20th April, we entered the beautiful plains called by Count Strezlecki after our mutual friend, Colonel Barney. On the 15th April, we left the open and entered densely wooded country, and struggled on till the 27th, when we were compelled to abandon our horses. 

We then proceeded on our way, without provisions, except the Kolas (native bear) [Cholah, or Native Bear, a species of sloth] we shot, till the 12th May, on that day we reached the old settlement at Westernport. We were there kindly entertained by a resident named Berry, Mr Ross, now of Heidelberg, and Messrs. Massie and Anderson, then occupying that country. We remained some days at Westernport, regaining our exhausted strength, and then travelled on foot to Melbourne. 

The result of our journey was immediately published, and a party started from Melbourne by sea to connect our exploration with Corner Inlet. I allowed Charles Tarra to accompany this expedition, and he subsequently returned through Gipps- land with Mr Surveyor Townsend.

Mr McMillan's dates are:— 

First exploration reached Mount McLeod, now the Haystack, on the 30th May, 1839. After many subsequent unsuccessful attempts, he start- ed on the 9th February, 1841, and reached the old port on the 14th February. In the May following he succeeded in taking down a dray. A reference to the files of the PORT PHILLIP PATRIOT will afford you any further information. 

I furnish you with these particulars without the slightest wish to detract from the energy and perseverance displayed by Mr McMillan. At the same time I feel that I have the right of at least participating in the honor of exploration, and of having been the first, by publication of our discoveries, to open the immediate occupation of the important district of Gippsland to the enterprise of the then infant Colony of Victoria. 

I remain Sir, Yours faithfully, JAMES McARTHUR. 

(TO BE CONTINUED)

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3. Chronology

1839

* 27 December - Strzelecki leaves Camden Park. He subsequently travels [possibly] to the Illawarra and southward towards Goulburn, possibly by the Shoalhaven and Bundanoon.

1840

* 17 January - James Macarthur leaves Vineyard, Parramatta, with John Riley and the Aboriginal man from Taralga, Charlie Tarra.

* 20 January - Phillip Gidley King writes to John Hay re Strzelecki. Given to him at Bogolong.

* 5 February - Strezlecki and servant plus pack horse join Macarthur and Riley at Gunong, Goulburn Plains [between Breadalbane and Lake George - most likely refers to the town of Gunning, located just to the west of Breadalbane]. 

* 21 February - Party arrives at Ellerslie [Adelong], Macarthur's properties on the Tumut. Shortly thereafter Macarthur dispatches a party under Hector McKay to Melbourne.

* 2 March - Strzelecki leaves Ellerslie, accompanied by James Macarthur, James Riley, Charles Tara and two convict servants, heading southeasterly towards Wilson's Promontory.

* 6 March - Sketches taken by Macarthur and Riley at John Hay's property, Welaregang.

* 7 March - Welaregang.

* 9 March - leave Welaregang.

* 12 March - Strzelecki climbs Mount Kosciusko. The party then retrace their steps 30 miles before heading south again towards Wilson's Promontory and the Gippsland region.

* 26 March - At McAlister's station.

* 6 April - Ford Nicholson (Riley) River.

* 12-14 May - Western Port. 

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4. References 

Exploration of Gippsland, Stratford Sentinel and Briagolong Express, Victoria, 17 July 1914.

Gipps Land Anniversary Dinner, Gippsland Guardian, Friday, 7 March 1856.

James Macarthur, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, volume 2, 1967. 

Organ, Michael, Paul Edmund Strzelecki in Australia, 1839-1843, blogger.com, 6 November 2019. 

The Progress of Discovery, The Cornwall Chronicle, Launceston, Tasmania, 20 June 1840. From the Port Phillip Herald, 3 June 1840. 

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Paul Edmund Strzelecki : In Australia 1839-43 | Stamps & Covers | In Australia (video) | W.B. Clarke | Eugene von Guerard print 1866 | William Macarthur 1856 |   

Last updated: 12 March 2026

Michael Organ, Australia