What are the names of the two explorers who attempted to become the first explorers to cross Australia from North to South and back again?

Answer 1

This was Robert O'Hara Burke and William Wills. Theirs was the most expensive, well equipped expedition ever mounted. They left Royal Park, Melbourne on 20 August 1860 and made it to the Gulf of Carpentaria, but died at Cooper Creek on their return journey, sometime in June-July 1861.

Answer 2

Australian Aborigines were the first to explore Australia, but they did not make records and maps of what they found.

The Asian people visited the northern coast regularly for hundreds of years before Europeans set foot on the continent, to collect sea-slugs (trepang), a valued delicacy in Asia. They explored the northern Coastlines in search of trepang.

The first recorded Europeans to explore Australia were the Dutch. The best known among them were Willem Jansz (1606)and Dirk Hartog (1616),

The first Englishman to visit Australia was William Dampier, in 1688.

James Cook (not yet a captain) charted the eastern coast of Australia and claimed it in the name of the British in 1770, calling it New South Wales. He was by no means the first to explore Australia.

Answer 3

There were two contenders in the field for this honour.

The first attempt to cross Australia from south to north was led by John McDouall Stuart in 1858. He was a hardy little Scotsman who was determined to conquer central Australia. He made five attempts after 1858, and he won the unofficial race to cross the continent when he returned, sick but triumphant, in Adelaide in January 1863.

The unsuccessful participants in the race were Robert O'Hara Burke and William Wills who headed up the Victorian expedition, an elaborate and expensive affair that ended in tragedy and the loss of life of both leaders. However, they did reach the Gulf and the north coast before Stuart, doing so in February 1861.

Answer 4

It is unknown whether any of the Australian Aborigines, the first people on the continent, ever crossed from South to North. This answer deals only with the first known Europeans to achieve this remarkable feat.

The first Europeans to cross the continent from South to North were Robert O'Hara Burke, William Wills, Charles Grey and John King. However, only John King survived to make the full crossing from North to South again, as the leaders, Burke and Wills, died, along with Grey.

The "race to cross Australia" was officially won by Scottish explorer John McDouall Stuart, who headed out from Adelaide, South Australia to cross the continent south to north and back again - and survived. It took him several attempts, but he returned, sick but triumphant, in Adelaide in January 1863. This was two years after Burke and Wills actually reached the North coast.

However, the truth is that the first man to successfully cross Australia from south to north was an unknown rescuer by the name of John McKinlay. You will not find this information in most history books. John McKinlay was chosen to head up the South Australian relief expedition for Burke and Wills, setting out from Adelaide on 16 August 1861. During the course of his search, McKinlay's journals show that he crossed the continent from south to north, then east and back again, possibly making McKinlay the uncredited first explorer to cross the continent and survive.

The remains of Burke and Wills were eventually located by the Victorian relief expedition.

Answer 5

The first man to successfully cross Australia from south to north was an unknown rescuer by the name of John McKinlay. You will not find this information in standard history books.

The "race to cross Australia" was officially won by John McDouall Stuart, who headed out from Adelaide, South Australia, and was the first known European to cross the continent south to north and back again, and survive. He was a hardy little Scotsman who was determined to conquer central Australia. It took him five attempts, but he returned, sick but triumphant, in Adelaide in January 1863.

The unsuccessful contenders in the race were Robert O'Hara Burke and William Wills who headed up the Victorian expedition, an elaborate and expensive affair that ended in tragedy and the loss of life of all but John King, a man who accompanied them. However, they did reach the Gulf and the north coast before Stuart, doing so in February 1861.

However, John McKinlay was chosen to head up the South Australian relief expedition for Burke and Wills, setting out from Adelaide on 16 August 1861. During the course of his search, McKinlay's journals show that he crossed the continent from south to north, then east and back again, possibly making McKinlay the uncredited first explorer to cross the continent and survive. The remains of Burke and Wills were eventually located by the Victorian relief expedition.

Answer 6

No explorers attempted to cross Australia from north to south and back again.

The two explorers who attempted (unsuccessfully) to cross Australia from south to north and back again were Robert O'Hara Burke and William Wills.