BACKGROUND

The Obelisk, located on the edge of the Yarra Boulevard Loop, was opened in February 1938, and commemorates Charles Grimes, the Surveyor-General of New South Wales, who in 1803 discovered the Yarra River. It also marks the crossing of the river by the first overlanders, John Gardiner, Joseph Hawdon and John Hepburn in December 1836.

 

Charles Grimes, the acting Surveyor-General of New South Wales, and a small party set sail from Sydney in the "Cumberland," and arrived off what is now Sorrento on 20th January 1803.  Here Grimes commenced a systematic investigation of the shores of Port Phillip, and on Wednesday, 2nd February, was the first white man to see the Yarra.

 

On Monday, 7th February 1803, Grimes antd his party took a boat up the Yarra to see where it would lead them. On the following day, 8th February, 1803, they found their progress stopped by the obstruction now known as Dight's Falls, and landing, examined the country, being  the first white men to tread Studley Park. 

 

The first mob of cattle was driven overland from New South Wales, and arrived near the settlement in December, 1836. The owners, John Gardiner, Captain John Hepburn, and Joseph Hawdon, crossed their cattle over the Yarra at Dight's Falls, and founded, in what is now Kew and Hawthorn, the first cattle station in Australia Felix.

 

TEXT ON MONUMENT

"This cairn was erected conjointly by the Kew, Collingwood and Heidelberg City Councils as a memorial to Charles Grimes, Surveyor General of NSW and party, the first white men to discover the river Yarra, reaching the Yarra Falls on 8th February 1803.

 

Also to mark the crossing of the river near here with cattle by the first overlanders, John Gardiner, Joseph Hawdon and John Hepburn in December 1836"