Were Burke and wills ready for their expedition around Australia?

Answer 1

Burke and Wills did not travel around Australia. Theirs was a reasonably direct crossing from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. By way of equipment, they were exceptionally well prepared, in the most expensive expedition to date. The following is a list of supplies that Robert O'Hara Burke took on his expedition:

• 320 pounds (lb) of Pemmican
• 600 lb of salt pork
• 400 lb bacon
• 1000 lb meat buscuits
• 10 lb potted meats
• 60 lb preserved mutton
• 144 lb preserved vegetables
• 7100 lb flour
• 2500 lb rice
• 3000 lb sugar
• 400 lb tea
• 50 lb coffee
• 40 lb chocolate
• 200 lb salt
• 40 lb pepper
• 200 lb soap
• 250 lb tobacco
• 993 lb ghee (clarified butter)
• 10 lb fresh butter
• 200 lb Captain's biscuits
• 20 gallons lime juice
• 10 gallons vinegar
• 70 lb mustard
• 20 lb ginger
• 100 lb dried apples
• 50 lb raisins
• 50 lb currants
• 189 lb dates

For more information on the stores and supplies Burke took, see the related link below and use the menu at the bottom of the link to search further for provisions and equipment.

However, mentally, Burke was not prepared. He was an impatient and hot-tempered man, and not at all well equipped to lead an expedition. It was his lack of patience that largely resulted in the failure of the expedition and the loss of three lives.