How many expeditions did Edward John Eyre do?

Answer 1

From 1839, Eyre made several exploration ventures into the countryside north of Adelaide. In May 1839, Eyre departed Adelaide to explore countryside to the north. It was on this journey that he discovered and named Mount Remarkable.

In June 1840, Eyre left Adelaide to explore north towards the centre of Australia. He encountered salt lake after salt lake: each time he attempted to go around a salt lake, he found his way barred by yet another.

He then turned his attentions towards the goal of being the first European explorer to cross overland from east to west. Departing from Fowler's Bay on what is now the Eyre Peninsula, he travelled across the Nullarbor Plain to King George's Sound, now called Albany, finally reaching Albany and civilization on 7 July 1841.

Answer 2

Eyre went on three main journeys.

He wanted to be the first to drive cattle overland from Sydney to the new colony of South Australia. He first explored in 1837, when he departed from Limestone Plains (today's site of Canberra), with over a thousand sheep and cattle. He travelled first to Melbourne, then tried to head directly west to Adelaide. Conditions were difficult, as it was a drought year, so he could not get through the mallee country of western Victoria. Eyre had to retrace his steps to the Murray River, and his first explorations were not successful.

In 1839, Eyre left Adelaide to explore north. He discovered excellent countryside just north of Adelaide and around today's Hutt River. It was on this journey that he discovered and named Mount Remarkable. Eyre finally arrived at the head of Spencer Gulf on 15 May 1839, where he discovered and named Depot Creek.

Eyre left Adelaide in June 1840 to explore north towards the centre of Australia. He did not get very far as he was blocked by salt lake after salt lake: each time he attempted to go around a salt lake, he found his way barred by yet another. This led to Eyre's theory that Adelaide was surrounded by a vast horseshoe-shaped salt lake. By sheer bad luck, Eyre was unable to locate any of the breaks between the numerous salt-lakes which encircled the area. In September 1840, Eyre climbed and named "Mt Hopeless".

Following this unsuccessful attempt, Eyre returned to Streaky Bay, on the western coast of the Eyre Peninsula. From there he then travelled to past where Ceduna is today, reaching Fowler's Bay on 17 November 1840. At this point, he chose to go west, which no-one had ever tried before. He finally reached Albany in June 1841 in an amazing journey of courage and endurance across the Nullarbor Plain.