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MOUNT AITKEN PASTORAL STATION

Other Name

"BOOMERA"

Location

740-794 MT AITKEN ROAD DIGGERS REST, MELTON CITY

File Number

13/000764-06

Level

Heritage Inventory Site

Statement of Significance

The Mount Aitken Site and Ruin is of at least local heritage significance as a major nineteenth century stud property under John Aitken and Henry Beattie; and also for its associations with key events in Australia's history:- the European foundation and 'first settlement' of the Port Phillip / Melbourne district; and 'fi rst contact' period encounters between the Aboriginal and European peoples.

It is important because of the scarcity of other recorded physical evidence of these events in the Port Phillip district. The Mount Aitken Site and Ruin is likely historically significant at a state level. John Aitken was the first European to settle in the Shire of Melton. He was also one of the first pastoralists to land sheep at Port Phillip. Aitken had been planning to cross Bass Strait as early as 1833, and on 20th July 1835, the day before Fawkner's Enterprize departed to lay claim to the foundation of Melbourne, Aitken left Launceston in the Endeavour to prospect the pastures which John Batman had discovered across the Strait.

On 22nd March 1836 Aitken sailed again with 1600 sheep; in May 600 of these arrived at the Mount Aitken run which he had selected on his 1835 exploration. This has been described as Victoria's first inland occupation of sheep country.

Overall, the Mount Aitken Site and Ruin is of at least local heritage significance.

Group

Farming and Grazing