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Directions to your second story point: From Chateau Remy Vineyards, continue along the gravel road. Soon you will see signs. Turn right into Number 2 Creek Lookout. Drive carefully. There are gravel corrugations on corners. Look for this sign. Shortly, the Governor Rock Lookout Tower car park sign will appear on the right side of the road. Park carefully. From the car park, there is a short gravel track. Initially, it is steep and quite rocky. Good supporting shoes are a must. Sir Rowan Delacombe, Governor of Victoria, stood on this rock on the 4th of December 1964, on his visit to commemorate the centenary of Avoca Shire. Pause this video and enjoy the spectacular vista. Then, play at the car park picnic ground when you return.
Although Major Mitchell never visited this site, we can imagine a similar vista that impressed him atop Mount Oak. We can see Mount William in the nearby Grampian Ranges. Major Mitchell' s 1836 expedition travelled with 5 bullock drays, a team of over 50 bullocks, a large cart carrying 2 boats and 12 horses. Mitchell also had a herd of sheep and some oxen as provisions. The expedition left its mark; the cartwheels carved into the soft earth became known as Mitchell' s Line, a trail remaining visible to the 20th century. On his 3rd expedition as Surveyor-General of New South Wales he crossed the Murray River and turned south-west into what is now Victoria and was so enchanted by the area he called it Australia Felix, meaning fortunate or happy.
His expedition was the first to explore deep into what was then called the Port Phillip District. Along the way he named the Grampians and Pyrenees Ranges. Mitchell noted, ' The soil everywhere rich and black. With fine streams.' Travelling south-west he reached the sea at Portland Bay. Mitchell was very surprised to meet the Henty brothers, Victoria's earliest settlers. On his return, he went northwards over the Great Dividing Range, through Lexton and Clunes, and onwards to Newstead, Castlemaine, and Mount Macedon.
On returning to Sydney, his reports resulted in a land rush into the Port Phillip District, Victoria. Mitchell is also remembered for his hot-headed temper. It is speculated that he is the last person in Australia to challenge anyone to a duel. In 1851, Mitchell confronted Sir Stuart Donaldson in Sydney. Donaldson had publicly criticised Mitchell for the over expenditure of the Surveyor-General' s Department. Both duellists missed their mark; only Donaldson's hat was damaged in the altercation. The second stepped in to declare their honour had been satisfied, and the duel was abandoned.