24 April 2008

The Burke and Wills Expedition

Posted by Mick under: Historical Info; Websites .

I love a good expedition story, and the Burke and Wills Expedition in the 1860′s is one of the most famous, yet most badly organised expeditions ever undertaken on the Australian mainland. Luckily, due to its support and backing at the time it is also extremely well documented.

From the Burke and Wills Expedition Wikipedia entry…

In 1860-61 Robert O’Hara Burke and William John Wills led an expedition of 19 men with the intention of crossing Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north, a distance of around 2,800 kilometres (1,750 miles). At that time most of the inland of Australia had not been explored by non-indigenous people and was completely unknown to the European settlers.

The south-north leg was successfully completed (except they were stopped by swampland 5 kilometres (3 miles) from the northern coastline) but owing to poor leadership and bad luck, both of the expedition’s leaders died on the return journey. All together, seven men lost their lives, and only one man, John King, travelled the entire expedition and returned alive to Melbourne.

Along with the Wikipedia entry, you can find a heap more information, photos, maps, and other things, at the links below.

Burke & Wills Web
Lots of info over at this website, including the Buke & Wills Walk.

The Burke and Wills Historical Society
A group of BUrke and Wills enthusiasts who also run the Burke & Wills Conference every two years, with the next one being held in Melbourne in 2009.

Across Australia with Burke and Wills
A Google Earth Community complete with details Google Earth KML file and Google Maps route as well.

Memorials
A list of Burke and Wills memorials at White Hat.

In the Tracks of Burke and Wills
Follow Mike Wills (fourth cousin, four times removed of William John Wills) and friends as they trace the route of the Burke & Wills Expedition.

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