The discoveries of Mr. Oxley, gave a new impulse to the spirit for opening up the country. Long before this, Captain Rous, of the king's ship Rainbow, had ascertained the existence of two rivers of considerable magnitude on the coast, between Moreton Bay and Port Jackson, by which, approach into that part of the colony might be facilitated. In 1819, the year after Mr. Oxley's discovery of the country between Mount Harris and the Port Macquarie, the river Murrumbidgee amongst the mountains, to the south-westward of Sydney, was brought into considerable prominence. For some time news of such a river had been brought to the capital, by persons who had been making explorations in quest of stations. It took a north-westerly course, and was reported as promising to lead to a great tract of country, highly desirable. It took its rise on the western side of the hills, the district called Argyle, or the New Country, and in 1823, Captain Currie, R.N., in the course of an expedition southward, discovered an extensive tract of undulating land, clear of timber, and watered by this river, so named by the natives. This valuable tract of country, Captain Currie named Brisbane Downs, in honour of the then governor, Sir Thomas Brisbane, but it has since been more generally known by its native name of Monaroo, or the Maneira Plains.