Hooley Plaque

Statement of Significance

The site of the Hooley plaque has considerable historic significance as evidence of very early exploration activity through the district which subsequently led to the opening up of the area for pastoral concerns. The location is very picturesque, being a wide river crossing with trees and other vegetation providing a visual distinction to the surrounding environment.

Physical Description

Located to the south of the Beringarra-Byro Road in a river crossing, and to the west of the Milly Milly Homestead, is a metal plaque recognising the rough location of a camping area utilised by E.T.Hooley in 1866. The small rectangular plaque is mounted on a large River Gun, approximately 70 metres to the west of the Forrest Plaque (P18200). The plaque bears the following inscription:
"E.T.Hooley
Camp 28
1866"
The inscription appears to have been punched into the piece of metal. Immediately to the south of the tree are the remnants of an old well which is partly surrounded by a timber and wire fence.

History

As a reward for exploring and opening up new country in the Ashburton district, Edward Timothy Hooley was granted 100,000 acres of land in the area, rent-free for four years provided that it was stocked within twelve months. To avoid the costs of shipping sheep, Hooley sought to find an overland route to the Ashburton. His first attempt in 1865 via a coastal route was unsuccessful, however Hooley replanned his route to follow the Murchison River. Subsequently in May 1866 Hooley left the Geraldton Mine with his flock of 1,945 sheep Enroute he travelled through the entirely unsettled Murchison country before arriving in the Ashburton three months later.
While researching material for her book, "ET Hooley, Pioneer Bushman", Eloise Sharp surmised that one of Hooley's camps was in the vicinity of an old well site near where Beringarra-Byro Road crosses the Murchison River. Although not precisely located, the plaque was erected by Eloise Sharp as an acknowledgement of Hooley's role in opening up the Murchison district. (Source Nixon M & Lefroy RFB; "Road to the Murchison". pp.15-16 & 36)

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Medium

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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