At a meeting on Monday night, council agreed to look at creating a Lost in the Bush cultural tourist trail, linking attractions related to the Lost in the Bush story across the Wimmera.

Horsham Rural City celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Cooper-Duff children lost in the bush last month, along with West Wimmera Shire Council, Barengi Gadjin Land Council and other Wimmera organisations.

Council cultural development officer Jillian Pearce said in a report to council the committee had identified opportunities for events that linked both the pioneering and Aboriginal stories across Horsham Rural City, West Wimmera Shire and Hindmarsh Shire.

“The Lost in the Bush committee has discussed the possibility of a Lost in the Bush winter weekend and cultural trail in the Wimmera as an annual event built around different offerings of the various community and council groups,” she said.

Cr Tony Phelan said he did not realise how much interest there was in the story until the celebration.

“We are having discussions about the ongoing legacy and what tourism aspects could be involved,” he said.

“It could involve Nhill, where Isaac Cooper ended up and where the trackers were called from.

“There is Ebenezer Mission Station at Antwerp, where tracker King Dick-A-Dick was from.

“He was then part of the first Aboriginal cricket team, so that brings in the Johnny Mullagh Cricket Centre at Harrow.

“There are more Cooper-Duff features and memorials around the rest of the region, which could lead to a cultural trail, which is being discussed at the moment.”

Mayor David Grimble said it was important the region celebrated the continuing significance of the story.

“This celebration received an enormous amount of support,” he said.

Ms Pearce said more than 2350 people attended the Lost in the Bush 150th anniversary events.

Lost in the Bush is the story of Isaac, Jane and Frank – aged nine, seven and nearly four – who became lost on Friday, August 12, 1864 after venturing into the Wimmera scrub to collect broom for their mother.

The children were found nine days later with the help of Aboriginal trackers.