Bill Hoolihan’s letter highlights the longstanding controversy of whether Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson actually got across the Great Dividing Range, or whether they stopped short. 

Nevertheless they “knocked the bastard off”, getting far enough, and were suitably recognised 200 years ago and in 2013. 

But, as Bill points out, there is no doubt surveyor George Evans got all the way across, and so was the first European to get to inland Australia. 

Evans left Emu Plains on November 19, 1813, and arrived at the site of future Bathurst on December 9, 1813. 

Not only did Evans discover Bathurst, he named it. 

On his outward journey Evans also named the River Lett (Rivulett), Evans Crown, Sidmouth Valley, Fish River, Campbells River, O’Connell Plains, Macquarie River and Macquarie Plains. One hundred years later, in 1913, the good citizens of Bathurst and NSW recognised the enormous importance to Australia of this accomplishment, and constructed a very handsome statue of Evans in Kings Parade. 

The question now is, will Bathurst suitably again recognise Evans’ discovery of Bathurst on its 200th anniversary this year – December 9, 2013? 

There has been no public discussion about celebrating this amazing event. Surely planning needed to start months ago for a suitable lasting tribute to the great man. 

Ideas are needed now, or is Evans to be consigned to a distant and dusty memory? 

Sandy Bathgate, Locksley