Last Friday marked a true full-circle moment in Kilmore as Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria, commemorated the 200th anniversary of the Hume and Hovell expedition and the 100th anniversary of the monument.
Held at Monument Hill in Kilmore, the milestone event celebrated the 1824 expedition of explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hilton Hovell—an important journey that traversed what is now Mitchell Shire and continues to be a significant chapter in Victoria’s history.
On December 13, 1924, Lord Stradbroke, the Victorian governor at the time, officially opened the monument.
A century later, Governor Gardner unveiled a plaque.
Joining Governor Gardner, Mitchell Shire Council (MSC), and community members at the event were Diane Henry, a descendant of Hovell, along with the Right Honourable Earl of Stradbroke Keith Rous, and the Countess of Stradbroke Lady Rous.
Governor Gardner said having descendants of Hovell and Lord Stradbroke added a meaningful dimension to the commemoration.
“It’s nice that we can find those links, those continuities, and that we were able to have someone here who was a descendant of William Hovel,” she said.
“There are all these threads that show not just what happened here a long time ago, but the fact that it continues into relationships, and that exist in the state to this day.”
Ms Henry expressed her amazement at how many people remain deeply connected to the history.
“I didn’t realise how important it was to everybody, I’m amazed really,” she said.
“I’m amazed at the turnout, and how this history is alive and well, and wherever [my daughter] Karen has been, from Sydney working her way back to Melbourne [following the trail], people are still aware of that.”
Following the morning ceremony, the Governor visited the historic Old Kilmore Gaol, including Willowmavin Primary School, Kilmore District Hospital, and Dianella Nursing Home.
Governor Gardner said it had been a wonderful visit to the Mitchell Shire.
“It’s such a vibrant shire … it’s so diverse, because it’s got everything from effectively the outer suburban growth corridor of Melbourne, through to small and vibrant townships, which are growing, as well as a very significant rural hinterland,” she said.
“It’s a diverse set of communities that are a very significant part of the overall growth and the overall future of Victoria.”
MSC Councillor Andrea Pace recognised the rich layers of history embodied at the Hume and Hovell Monument, paying tribute to the Traditional Owners of the land and noting the profound changes that followed the explorers’ journey.
“The event recognised both the achievements of Hume and Hovell and the resilience and culture of our First Nations people who have called this land home for tens of thousands of years,” she said.
“The Old Kilmore Gaol and the Hume and Hovell Monument are symbols of Kilmore’s ability to honour its past while embracing the future.”
