The high spot he chose was a welcome change from the boggy, inhospitable flats his party had grown used to negotiating.

Surrounding land was known by the local indigenous people as pokar, or meeting place, and would ultimately be settled by Europeans and given the name of Dartmoor.

During the next fortnight pupils from the town's primary school will learn about the area's history before and after Major Mitchell's visit, which took place during a surveying expedition of the region.

The pupils' studies will be guided by information and items from the Dartmoor District Museum, a treasure trove curated by local resident Michael Greenham.

The avid historian, who also teaches PE and health at the school one day a week, said all 25 pupils would take part.

"They'll all have something to do - we'll probably do a walk down to the river and the campsite where (Major Mitchell) was. At this time of year it's interesting because it's semi-flooded," Mr Greenham said.

"They'll also do stuff on who he was and how far he'd come to get here."

The Scottish Major Mitchell left Sydney in 1836 and crossed the Murray River close to where Swan Hill lies today.

He reached Mount Arapiles near Horsham and skirted the Grampians' edge before finding a river that he would later name the Glenelg.

"He pretty much then followed it all the way down to Dartmoor, and here the river was wide enough for him to launch a big row boat that they'd carried with them on a bullock train all the way from Sydney," Mr Greenham said.

"He paddled from Dartmoor to Nelson expecting to find a fantastic port, because he was impressed by the size of the river, and in the end he only found a little estuary at Nelson which he was disappointed in.

"Using some old volcanic cones as landmarks, he made his way to Portland and found the Hentys there to his great surprise."

Mr Greenham said Dartmoor's older residents tended to have a solid understanding of Major Mitchell's role, along with those present for the 1986 celebrations to mark 150 years since his visit.

A time capsule was buried on that occasion and will be opened in 25 years' time.

During the next week Dartmoor Primary School pupils will take photographs for a "point in time" exhibition, intended as a reference for future generations.

"One of the main things about history is the sense of belonging or community that it brings," Mr Greenham said.

"If you have shared knowledge and a shared ownership of your place, then I think you take more care of it and you understand more about where it's come from and where it might be heading."