Hume's New Line to Bathurst

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser

14 December 1827

To the editor of the Sydney Gazette.

Sir,

I beg leave to inform you, that a few days ago, I returned from my second tour to Bathurst, which was for the purpose of pointing out the new line of road I had discovered to that settlement, (by order of His Excellency the Governor) to the undermentioned gentlemen, viz. Lieut. Wilford, Surveyor of roads; Major Mitchell, Deputy Surveyor General; Mr. White, Assistant Surveyor; and Lieut Shadforth, all of whom approved of my proposed new track.

The range I discovered leads off about 3 or 4 miles on this side of "Mount York," in a N. W. direction: ...it is the main leading range of that part of the country, and is in general very even, lightly timbered, and is composed of good materials for making a road: ...and it is the dividing ridge between the eastern and western waters.

The waters running from the east side of this range, forms the principal sources of the "Grose River" and the second branch of the Hawkesbury; and those on the west side, lead into "Cox's River" and the "Toorien," which river runs towards "Mudjee."

The western side of this range, in general, terminates abruptly in perpendicular cliffs of coarse sand- stone, but to the eastward the descent is very gradual.

Finding this range to be the main one, and easy of access, and forming a good pass or passage round (or I may say between) so many streams, and completely avoiding all the difficulties the present road abounds with, between Mount York and Bathurst, I named it "Darling's Causeway," in consequence of it being discovered during General Darling's Administration, and my going out under His Excellency's patronage.

I succeeded in discovering three passes off this range (Darling Causeway) which is a continuation of Mount York Range, to the northward to the forest country about the sources of Cox's River:--- the first of which is through "Lithgow's Valley"* about 10 or 12 miles from where I turned off the present road to Bathurst, and leads in a direction for "O'Connell's Plains," leaving the Fish River, and Mount Evans, (or Evan's Crown) a little to the southward.

The other two tracts pass near "Wallerawong" (the residence of Mr. Walker):---one is about 4 miles north of that gentleman's farm, and crosses a new line of road (lately discovered) leading towards "Mudjee:" the other is to the S. E. of Mr. Walker's, and leads into a line of roads proposed by Mr. McBrien, from Collet's Inn to Bathurst, and which was approved by Sir Thomas Brisbane.

I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, Hamilton Hume. Appin, 10th Dec, 1827.

*From Lithgow's Valley, it is open forest land, the whole of the way to Bathurst.