Burke and Wills expedition
The Burke and Wills expedition, officially called the Victorian Exploring Expedition, was the largest and best equipped in Australian history. Led by Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills, they crossed the continent of Australia from south to north. The group left Melbourne on 20 August 1860[1] and reached the Gulf of Carpentaria on 9 February 1861.[2] However, because of poor planning and leadership, Burke and Wills died from starvation at Cooper Creek on their return journey.
Burke And Wills Expedition Media
- Burke and Wills Track.png
Map of the Burke and Wills expedition
Photograph of en:William John Wills.
Instructions issued to Burke, leader of the Victorian Exploration Expedition
Nicholas Chevalier, Memorandum of the Start of the Exploring Expedition, oil on canvas, 1860
- Royal Park Melbourne.jpg
Monument in Royal Park, Melbourne where the expedition commenced
- BeckerTerrickTerrickPlainsMS13867 4SLV.jpg
Crossing the Terrick-Terrick Plains by Ludwig Becker, who died on the journey
- Coopers Creek Bullah waterhole.JPG
Site of Camp 65 on Cooper Creek
- Edward Jukes Greig - Arrival of Burke & Wills at Flinders River, 1862.jpg
Edward Jukes Greig, Arrival of Burke & Wills at Flinders River, oil on canvas, 1862, State Library of New South Wales
Burke, Wills and King on the way back from the Gulf of Carpentaria.
References
- ↑ "Melbourne to the Gulf: A brief history. Chapter 4". burkeandwills.net.au. 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- ↑ "Melbourne to the Gulf: A brief history. Chapter 11". burkeandwills.net.au. 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
