Burke and Wills Expedition

Burke And Wills Expedition

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 3,250 kilometres (approximately 2,000 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 that they were stopped by swampland 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the northern coastline), but owing to poor leadership and bad luck, both of the expedition's leaders died on the return journey. Altogether, seven men lost their lives, and only one man, John King, crossed the continent with the expedition and returned alive to Melbourne.

Read more about Burke And Wills Expedition:  Beginning, Exploration Committee, Camels, Departure From Melbourne, Cooper Creek, The Gulf of Carpentaria, Return To Cooper Creek, The Dig Tree, Burke, Wills and King Alone At Cooper Creek, Rescue Expeditions, Cause of Death, Cooper Creek Summary, Deaths On The Victorian Exploring Expedition, Afterwards

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