When the South Australian government offered a reward of two thousand pounds to the first expedition to reach the northern coast, it started a chain of events that affected a Scottish explorer by the name of John McDowall/McDougall Stuart, a young Englishman by the name of William Wills, and an Irishman named Robert O'Hara Burke.
Due to the South Australian challenge, the Victorian Government decided to sponsor its own extremely well-funded and well-equipped expedition from south to north. The proposed expedition was widely publicised, and confidence in its success rode on the back of the new wealth being enjoyed by the young colony of Victoria in the wake of the goldrushes.
Wills had more bush experience than Burke. He was apparently a likeable young man with leadership potential. Originally, he was third in command, but because Burke (a rather fiery tempered chap who did not like his judgments being questioned) had a run-in with his original second-in-command, Landells, he was fired - and Wills was promoted to second-in-command.
The Burke and Wills expedition had the potential to be very important to the state of Victoria. Burke and Wills, like John McDouall Stuart in South Australia, were seeking a suitable route for a telegraph line from the southern regions of Australia to the north. A telegraph link to the rest of the world was available off Java, but it had to be linked to a centre in the north, then an overland telegraph line constructed to carry messages down to the main cities in the south.
This would provide a very important link for Australia to the rest of the world, and Victoria wanted to be the first state to receive overseas news, as this would be a psychological advantage for the state. It also could have been the winning card to tip the authorities in favour of making Melbourne Australia's national capital in the future, over the larger and older Sydney (as it was, neither Melbourne nor Sydney was chosen).
Both South Australia and Victoria were vying to be the first to make a successful crossing of the continent, and both states offered sizable rewards. Burke and Wills represented the Victorian bid to cross the continent. In the end, due to their premature deaths, the Burke and Wills expedition sadly had no lasting importance or significance for Australia, except in history books.
Robert O'Hara Burke, with William Wills appointed second-in-command, led the 1860-61 expedition to try to cross Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north - and back again. This distance was a distance of around 3,250 kilometres (approximately 2,000 miles).
The party travelled via Menindee and Cooper Creek before pushing on to the Gulf.
Burke and Wills crossed Australia because South Australia and Victoria were, essentially, involved in a race.
When the South Australian government offered a reward of two thousand pounds to the first expedition to reach the northern coast, it started a chain of events that affected a Scottish explorer by the name of John McDowall/McDougall Stuart, a young Englishman by the name of William Wills, and an Irishman named Robert O'Hara Burke.
Due to the South Australian challenge, the Victorian Government decided to sponsor its own extremely well-funded and well-equipped expedition from south to north. The proposed expedition was widely publicised, and confidence in its success rode on the back of the new wealth being enjoyed by the young colony of Victoria in the wake of the goldrushes.
The Burke and Wills expedition had the potential to be very important to the state of Victoria. Burke and Wills, like John McDouall Stuart in South Australia, were seeking a suitable route for a telegraph line from the southern regions of Australia to the north. A telegraph link to the rest of the world was available off Java, but it had to be linked to a centre in the north, then an overland telegraph line constructed to carry messages down to the main cities in the south.
This would provide a very important link for Australia to the rest of the world, and Victoria wanted to be the first state to receive overseas news, as this would be a psychological advantage for the state. It also could have been the winning card to tip the authorities in favour of making Melbourne Australia's national capital in the future, over the larger and older Sydney (as it was, neither Melbourne nor Sydney was chosen).
Both South Australia and Victoria were vying to be the first to make a successful crossing of the continent, and both states offered sizable rewards. Burke and Wills represented the Victorian bid to cross the continent. In the end, due to their premature deaths, the Burke and Wills expedition sadly had no lasting importance or significance for Australia, except in history books.
They didn't.
Burke and Wills reached the tidal flats of the Gulf of Carpentaria on 11 February 1861.
No. Burke and Wills did not know each other before being appointed their positions in the exploration to cross the continent.
Robert O'Hara Burke and William Wills led the Australian expedition that was intended to bring fame and prestige to Victoria: being the first to cross Australia from south to north and back again. Burke's party left from Royal Park, Melbourne, in August 1860, and headed north-northwest to Menindee. Part of the group then pushed on to the Gulf of Carpentaria, with most remaining at Cooper Creek. Through poor judgement, lack of observation and a series of miscommunications, Burke and Wills never met up with the relief party at Cooper Creek on their return. Burke and Wills died around July 1861, without ever returning to Melbourne.
Yes. Explorers Burke and Wills did meet Aborigines. Initially,the indigenous people tried to assist the explorers by feeding them. However, Burke became suspicious of the Aborigines and fearful that they were stealing supplies, so he frightened them off with gunshots. As a result, the indigenous people abandoned Burke and Wills, although they did keep John King alive.
The Burke and Wills expedition left Melbourne in 1860.
The Burke and Wills expedition left Melbourne in 1860.
Robert O'Hara Burke and William Wills led the 1860-61expedition to try to cross Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north.
Robert O'Hara Burke and William Wills led the 1860-61 expedition to try to cross the continent of Australia, from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north.
No. Explorers Burke and Wills were unrelated.
They sought the prize offered by South Australia to be the first to cross the continent from south to north.
Burke and Wills travelled from Melbourne, Victoria to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The exploration of Burke and Wills took place in 1860-1861.
Australian explorers Burke and Wills spoke English.
Burke came from Ireland, Wills from England
On the Burke and Wills expedition, Wills was initially appointed as third-in-command, surveyor, astronomical and meteorological observer. When George Landells resigned after a dispute with Burke (some sources say Burke fired Landells), Wills was then appointed second-in-command.
Thoroughly. Burke and Wills both died in June/July 1861.