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Hume and Hovell Cairn
East Esplanade; opposite Power Street, ST ALBANS VIC 3023 - Property No 23

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Brimbank City
1714 - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study 1998
1714 - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study 1998
1714 - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study 1998
HO38 Hume Hovell Cairn 1.JPG
Site 023 - Hume & Hovell Cairn.jpg
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Statement of Significance

Of State significance as a memorial to the first overland crossing of European settlers from the settled area of New South Wales to the Port Phillip District, and therefore demonstrating the first steps in the process of discovery and surveying of Victoria. It is one of a number of stone cairns and monuments erected in 1924 as part of the centenary of the explorations of Hume and Hovell. This example reflects the vernacular construction of the district in roughly-shaped bluestone, the predominant local stone.
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    • Physical Description 1

      Hume and Hovell Cairn - Physical Description 1

      Description

      A circular stone cairn of roughly-coursed bluestone blocks, possibly originally used or intended for use as road pitchers, set in cement mortar, with the letters 'H H' picked out in white quartz pebbles on opposite sides. The cairn stands about 2.5 metres high and tapers from a base of approximately 1.5 metres diameter to 60 cm. at the top which is crowned by a domed cap with white exposed aggregate, possibly the local light-coloured silcrete. A bronze plaque is set into the side facing the main road bearing the inscription: 'Hume & Hovell passed here Dec. 19th 1824. Erected by Residents of St. Albans and Sydenham, December 19th 1924'. A memorial seat is close by, donated by St Albans History Society, for the rededication of the monument, 18 March 1994.

      Physical Conditions

      Hume and Hovell Cairn - Physical Conditions

      Condition/integrity

      In good condition, although the moves have caused some disruption to the original form, for example, the rather heavy mortar courses in the stone work.

      Historical Australian Themes

      Hume and Hovell Cairn - Historical Australian Themes

      3 Developing local, regional and national economies
      3.3 Surveying the continent

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Brimbank - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study

      Author: G. Vines
      Year: 2000
      Grading: State

Public contributions

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