Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 21 July 1911, page 5
UPPER YARRA FALLS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.
Sir, Mr. Panton's letter on the discovery of Mount Donna Buang, that appeared in
"the Argus" of the lst inst, brought back to me recollections of the time-half a century ago when I was one of the many hardy prospectors who penetrated the dense scrubs and sleep mountain ranges of the Upper Yarra, in search of gold. I have still a vivid recollection of the night -a most uncomfortable one-I passed with Mr. Panton on Queen's Birthday Creek, on May 24, 1866; but I think that gentleman makes an error when he alludes to me as the discoverer of the falls near the head of the river. I am under the impression that they were visited by a party of surveyors in the year 1845. I certainly re-discovered them in 1867, and named the waterfall (there are several) after Mr. Panton. It would be a graceful act to abandon the present namee (Campbell) bestowed on the lower fall, long after my visit, and revert to the original one, as it would keep green the memory of a gentleman who did much to open up the Upper Yarra valley, and develop the mineral and other re
sources. Yours, &c.,
July 19. J. BLACKBURNE.
J. BLACKBURN"!':.
July 10.
UPPER YARRA FALLS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.
Sir, Mr. Panton's letter on the discovery of Mount Donna Buang, that appeared in
"the Argus" of the lst inst, brought back to me recollections of the time-half a century ago when I was one of the many hardy prospectors who penetrated the dense scrubs and sleep mountain ranges of the Upper Yarra, in search of gold. I have still a vivid recollection of the night -a most uncomfortable one-I passed with Mr. Panton on Queen's Birthday Creek, on May 24, 1866; but I think that gentleman makes an error when he alludes to me as the discoverer of the falls near the head of the river. I am under the impression that they were visited by a party of surveyors in the year 1845. I certainly re-discovered them in 1867, and named the waterfall (there are several) after Mr. Panton. It would be a graceful act to abandon the present namee (Campbell) bestowed on the lower fall, long after my visit, and revert to the original one, as it would keep green the memory of a gentleman who did much to open up the Upper Yarra valley, and develop the mineral and other re
sources. Yours, &c.,
July 19. J. BLACKBURNE.
J. BLACKBURN"!':.
July 10.
Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 7 July 1911, page 4
DONN BUANG AND THE UPPER
YARRA
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS
Sir,-In common with many of your readers, I have read with great interest the various references of late to Mount Donna Buang, including Mr. Pantons val- uable note in "The Argus" of 1st inst. I have reason to believe that the paper en titled 'Melbourne's Great Unknown Mount tain', read by the late Professor Kernot before the Royal Geographical Society in Australia on 13th. May 1907 and pub
lished in the "Victorian Geographic Journal" volume 25, was the means of directing attention to Donna Buang, which is, to quote the professors words, the highest by hundreds of feet that can be clearly seen from any i lu iii ii non point in our city' He added that it stands out plain and sharp every other day especially when the north wind blows, and without the use of any instruments at all, but simply to naked eye ijt is umbi) Inglui than any of its neighbouring peaks. That it should be unknown shows how little in terest is taken in geography in the commu
nity and how few people use their eyes on the wonderful world around them.
Mr. Panton refers to another peak named
by him "Mount Lexy" which he thinks is identical to that subsequently named by the late professor Kernot "Mount Hors-
fall " a name subsequently altered to "Mount Horsfall ". The professor discusses this matter in a paper on "The Upper Yarra", read before the Royal Geographic Society on 14th ApriI, 1908 and published in the "Victorian Geographical Journal
Vol. 26, after his lamented death the duty of seeing it through the press having in
voled upon myself as then secretary of the society and editor of its journal.
In this paper the professor presents that Mr. Panton's "Mount Lexy is f?m miles north-west of the trigonometric station on Mount Baw Baw meaning to say, on the latest government map with up-to date information from recent geo logical surveys, this point is marked Mount Whitelaw. It would appear, therefore that the older name has been overlooked and, unintentionally no doubt, a serious wrong done to our old friend (meaning Mr.
Panton), who by his own zeal and labour did such excellent service in the early days. Further, Panton's Queens Birthday Creek has been lost sight of, although a careful comparison of his and later maps renders it almost absolutely certain that it is iden-tical with the present Falls Creek on which occurs the splendid cataract that is the "Glory of Upper Yarra Valley" ' Further on in his paper the professor described the trip in which he named "Mount Hors- fall", which he frequently t??l nu was entirely distinct from "Mount Lexy" and in concluding he advocated lilli r lilli »
(a) The restoration of the name Mount Lexy.
(b) The restoration of the name "Queen's Birthday Creek "
(c) The naming of some prominent peak near the source of the Yarra "Mount Pan- ton," as a memorial of the excellent geo-graphical work done by that gentleman in the district. Professor Kernot added that he would have no objection to the name "Mount Horsfall" being altered to "Mount Panton" if no other suitable peak can be
found.
(d) The naming of some prominent fea- ture at or near the source of the Yarra after Mr. Robert Hoddle, the first surveyor general of the Port Phillip district, who in 1845 made the first survey towards the head
of the Yarra.
May I, through you, ask the favourable consideration by the Government of these
suggestions. Their adoption would not only a fitting tribute of the good work done
in district by Mr. Panton and the late
Robert Hoddle, but also a graceful com-pliance with the wishes of the late Professor Kernot, who was undoubtedly one of the most honourable, talented and straight-
forward citizens that Victoria has ever
possesed, in addition to being amongst her most distinguished civil engineers and Uni-. veristy professors.-Yours, &c.,
THOMAS WALKER FOWLER.
421 Collin-street, July 3.
DONN BUANG AND THE UPPER
YARRA
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS
Sir,-In common with many of your readers, I have read with great interest the various references of late to Mount Donna Buang, including Mr. Pantons val- uable note in "The Argus" of 1st inst. I have reason to believe that the paper en titled 'Melbourne's Great Unknown Mount tain', read by the late Professor Kernot before the Royal Geographical Society in Australia on 13th. May 1907 and pub
lished in the "Victorian Geographic Journal" volume 25, was the means of directing attention to Donna Buang, which is, to quote the professors words, the highest by hundreds of feet that can be clearly seen from any i lu iii ii non point in our city' He added that it stands out plain and sharp every other day especially when the north wind blows, and without the use of any instruments at all, but simply to naked eye ijt is umbi) Inglui than any of its neighbouring peaks. That it should be unknown shows how little in terest is taken in geography in the commu
nity and how few people use their eyes on the wonderful world around them.
Mr. Panton refers to another peak named
by him "Mount Lexy" which he thinks is identical to that subsequently named by the late professor Kernot "Mount Hors-
fall " a name subsequently altered to "Mount Horsfall ". The professor discusses this matter in a paper on "The Upper Yarra", read before the Royal Geographic Society on 14th ApriI, 1908 and published in the "Victorian Geographical Journal
Vol. 26, after his lamented death the duty of seeing it through the press having in
voled upon myself as then secretary of the society and editor of its journal.
In this paper the professor presents that Mr. Panton's "Mount Lexy is f?m miles north-west of the trigonometric station on Mount Baw Baw meaning to say, on the latest government map with up-to date information from recent geo logical surveys, this point is marked Mount Whitelaw. It would appear, therefore that the older name has been overlooked and, unintentionally no doubt, a serious wrong done to our old friend (meaning Mr.
Panton), who by his own zeal and labour did such excellent service in the early days. Further, Panton's Queens Birthday Creek has been lost sight of, although a careful comparison of his and later maps renders it almost absolutely certain that it is iden-tical with the present Falls Creek on which occurs the splendid cataract that is the "Glory of Upper Yarra Valley" ' Further on in his paper the professor described the trip in which he named "Mount Hors- fall", which he frequently t??l nu was entirely distinct from "Mount Lexy" and in concluding he advocated lilli r lilli »
(a) The restoration of the name Mount Lexy.
(b) The restoration of the name "Queen's Birthday Creek "
(c) The naming of some prominent peak near the source of the Yarra "Mount Pan- ton," as a memorial of the excellent geo-graphical work done by that gentleman in the district. Professor Kernot added that he would have no objection to the name "Mount Horsfall" being altered to "Mount Panton" if no other suitable peak can be
found.
(d) The naming of some prominent fea- ture at or near the source of the Yarra after Mr. Robert Hoddle, the first surveyor general of the Port Phillip district, who in 1845 made the first survey towards the head
of the Yarra.
May I, through you, ask the favourable consideration by the Government of these
suggestions. Their adoption would not only a fitting tribute of the good work done
in district by Mr. Panton and the late
Robert Hoddle, but also a graceful com-pliance with the wishes of the late Professor Kernot, who was undoubtedly one of the most honourable, talented and straight-
forward citizens that Victoria has ever
possesed, in addition to being amongst her most distinguished civil engineers and Uni-. veristy professors.-Yours, &c.,
THOMAS WALKER FOWLER.
421 Collin-street, July 3.
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