When did Thomas Mitchell explore the Murray-Darling river areas?

Answer 1

There is no such river as the Murray-Darling River, as they are two separate rivers. Mitchell explored each river separately.

Thomas Mitchell undertook several expeditions to try to prove that Sturt's theory that the Darling River flowed into the Murray River was wrong. The Murray and Darling are two quite separate and distinct rivers. He never did succeed, of course, but these journeys were carried out over a couple of years.

• Mitchell set out on 7 April 1835 from Boree Station, with the purpose of charting the course of the Darling River. He followed it for some 500km before deciding Sturt must be correct.
• The instructions for his 1836 expedition were to follow the Lachlan and Murrumbudgee Rivers to the Murray, then on to the junction with the Darling River. He was then to follow the Darling upstream to Menindee to confirm conclusively that it was the same river he had initially followed south from northern New South Wales in his previous journey. However, discouraged by the desolate country around the southern end of the Darling, Mitchell decided to return to the Murray to explore its more fertile surrounds. This led to the discovery of the rich farming country of western Victoria, which he named "Australia Felix", or "Happy Australia".