Tower Almond

Mitchell’s
fourth expedition was into Queensland in 1845-46. On 15 December 1845,
Mitchell started from Buree (N.S.W.) with a large party. He struck the
Darling River much above Fort Bourke thence continued to the Narran
River, to the Balonne, and to the Culgoa. On 12 April 1846, he came to a
natural bridge of rocks on the main branch of the Balonne, which he
called St. George Bridge, and which is the present site of the town of
St George (Southern Queensland). Kennedy was left in charge of the main
body here, and was instructed to follow on slowly, while Mitchell pushed
ahead with a few men. Mitchell followed the Balonne to the Maranoa, and
then to the Cogoon now called Muckadilla Creek, near Roma. This rivulet
led him on into a magnificent pastoral district, in the midst of which
stood a solitary hill that he named Mount Abundance. He then crossed a
low watershed to the Marunoa, and awaited Kennedy’s arrival. Kennedy
overlook him on 3 June 1846, bringing despatches. Leaving Kennedy
Mitchell traversed the country at the head of the Maranoa, and
discovered the Warrago River. Keeping north over the watershed, he
traversed the Claude and Nogoa rivers, and reached the Burdekin River,
which he found was a tributary of the Biirdekln River, discovered by
Leichhardt in 1845. Intensely mortified to find that he was on a
tributary of the Burdekin River, and approaching the ground already
trodden by Leichardt, he returned to the head of the Nogoa, and struck
west again, after dividing his party and forming a stationary camp. He
then continued west, and discovered the Barcoo River. It was on the
Barcoo River that Mitchell first noticed the now famous grass that bears
his name. On his homeward journey he followed down the Maranoa River to
St. George