Bushy Park: The Angus McMillan Memorial

Bushy Park connects the Angus McMillan Memorial with a history on the Avon River. The memorial is located at the intersection of Bushy Park-Valencia Creek Road and Briagolong-Maffra Road. For travellers interested in local history, its appeal lies in the combination of a specific commemorative site, McMillan’s years in Bushy Park and its connection to the river. This makes it a clearly defined destination for a stay that includes historical themes.

A memorial spanning several periods

The large cairn of the Angus McMillan Memorial was erected in 1927 in McMillan’s honour. In April of that year, Lord Somers, Governor of Victoria, unveiled the monument. Its construction and unveiling therefore took place in the same year, but refer to different aspects: the erection of the memorial and the time it was unveiled.

A description from 2016 places the ruins of Angus McMillan’s homestead, dating from the 1840s, opposite the memorial. This arrangement brings together two periods: the earlier homestead and the later monument. If you enjoy placing historic sites in their historical context, this contrast offers a tangible way to explore Bushy Park’s history.

McMillan’s story on the Avon River

McMillan first built a hut on the banks of the Avon River in Bushy Park. He then built a station homestead, where he lived until 1861. This sequence gives his story a timeline: from the hut by the river to the later homestead and the end of the period he is said to have lived there. The memorial was built later, in 1927, making it easy to distinguish his personal story from the later commemoration.

The road reserve and its surroundings

The memorial is located on the road reserve of Maffra-Briagolong Road. In Bushy Park, this road crosses the Avon River. In 2015, four Pencil Pines, also known as Italian cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens stricta), stood in front of the memorial; three of them were mature at the time. The planting of these trees is dated to around the 1930s. This places them in a later period than the monument’s construction and adds another point of reference in time to the site’s history.

In 2016, a picnic table stood within the reserve, east of the memorial. If you’re planning to rely on the table, check before your visit whether it is still there.

Find a holiday rental in Bushy Park

When looking for a holiday rental, first consider whether McMillan’s story is a reason to choose Bushy Park as a destination. If you’d like to include the memorial in your stay, focus your search on Bushy Park. This ties your choice of accommodation location to a specific historical landmark. When planning your trip, you can also decide whether the monument itself is the main focus or whether you’re interested in the broader story, from the homestead and McMillan’s years there to its commemoration in 1927.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Cohuna, Beechworth, Rockbank, Anakie, Bannockburn, Junortoun, Marong, Mitta Mitta.

Go to the main travel overview: Victoria.