What Did Thomas Mitchell achieve?

Answer 1

Thomas Mitchell confirmed that the Darling River flowed into the Murray River, already discovered by Charles Sturt in 1829-30, and set out to explore upstream along the Darling. Drought forced him to return to the Murray.

After Mitchell returned downstream, he discovered the Loddon River on 1 July 1836 during exploration south of the Murray. He originally referred to the Loddon by its Aboriginal name, "Yarrayne". On this expedition, Mitchell continued south where he discovered the rich farming country of western Victoria, naming it "Australia Felix", or "Happy Australia". Before he reached this district, Mitchell also found important grazing land south of the Murray. He also discovered and named the Grampians mountain range in western Victoria.

Mitchell also discovered the Maranoa River in what is now Queensland on 24 April 1846. The river was named after an Aboriginal word meaning 'human hand'. It was on this journey that Mitchell also discovered and named the Balonne, Culgoa, Barcoo and Belyando rivers, which mostly flowed south-west into the Darling. Although this area was not as rich as the land he had found in Victoria on an earlier expedition, it would prove to be excellent grazing country in the future.