What were Burke and Wills' occupations?

Answer 1

Burke and Wills were to become Australia's most famous failures at exploration, dying out in the desert, due to Burke's impatience.

Prior to being appointed to the expedition, Robert O'Hara Burke was a police superintendent and William Wills was a surveyor.

Answer 2

William Wills worked as a shepherd when he first arrived in Australia. He developed an interest in surveying, before becoming as assistant at the Melbourne astronomical and magnetical observatories.Robert O'Hara Burke was a commander in the Irish Mounted Constabulary until he came to Australia. He then became police inspector at Beechworth, Victoria before being promoted to Superintendent of police in the Castlemaine area.