answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Edward John Eyre, born 5 August 1815, was the first white man to cross southern Australia from Adelaide to the west, travelling across the Nullarbor Plain to King George's Sound, now called Albany. Eyre originally intended to cross the continent from south to north, taking with him his overseer, John Baxter, and three Aborigines. He was forced to revise his plans when his way became blocked by the numerous saltpans of South Australia, leading him to believe that a gigantic inland sea in the shape of a horseshoe prevented access to the north.

Following this fruitless attempt, Eyre regrouped at Streaky Bay on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula. He then continued west, which had never before been attempted, in a gruelling journey across the Nullarbor, during which his party faced starvation, murder and thirst. Source: today.wmit.net for 2 June

User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 16y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why did Eyre cross the Nullarbor Plain?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about General History

What did Edward John Eyre do and who accompanied him?

Edward Eyre was the first European explorer to travel overland from east to west. Departing from Streaky Bay on the west coast of what is now the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, he made a long and arduous journey over the Nullarbor Plain to Albany, Western Australia. Accompanying him was his overseer John Baxter, two NSW aboriginal men, Joey and Yarrie, and a Western Australian Aborigine, Wylie. While on the Nullarbor, Joey and Yarrie shot and killed Baxter and ran away with guns and food, leaving Eyre and Wylie to carry on alone.


Who was Edward John Eyre?

Edward Eyre was the first European explorer to cross the Australian continent from east to west. Born in 1815 in Hornsea, Yorkshire, he came to Australia as a young man and gained valuable bush skills whilst droving cattle overland from Sydney through to the Liverpool Plains, Molonglo and Port Phillip. Eyre originally intended to cross the continent from south to north, taking with him his overseer, John Baxter, and three Aborigines. He was forced to revise his plans when his way became blocked by the numerous saltpans of South Australia, leading him to believe that a gigantic inland sea in the shape of a horseshoe prevented access to the north. It was then, in 1840, that he set out from what is now called the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, making his way across the Nullarbor Plain to Albany in the the west.


What did Edward John Eyre achieve?

Edward Eyre's main achievement was being the first European to successfully cross Australia overland from east, near Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, to west, near Albany in Western Australia. He had originally attempted to be the first to cross the Australian continent from south to north, but was stopped by salt lakes.


What did Edward Eyre discover in Australia?

In 1840, Edward Eyre discovered Lake Eyre, which was one of several salt lakes which blocked Eyre's attempt to cross from south to north. Other salt lakes which seemed to Eyre to form an impassable horseshoe-shaped barrier included Lake Blanche, Lake Torrens and Lake Callabonna, also discovered by Eyre but believed to be part of an inland sea. Eyre incorrectly formed the opinion that they all formed one large salt lake. It was another couple of decades before further exploration showed that they were separate salt lakes, and not an inland sea. Edward Eyre is better known for being the first European to cross Australia from Adelaide to Albany, or east to west, rather than for any great discoveries.


Who was John Eyre in the book John Eyre?

John Eyre was Jane Eyre's uncle in the book, "Jane Eyre." He was a Maderian trader that was looking for Jane.

Related questions

What year did Eyre cross the Nullarbor Plain?

Edward Eyre crossed the Nullarbor Plain in 1840-1841.


What did Edward Eyre cross?

Edward Eyre crossed the Nullarbor Plain.


Which explorer first crossed the Nullarbor Plain?

The first explorer to cross the Nullarbor Plain was Edward John Eyre.


What is the name of the highway that crosses the Nullarbor Plain?

The Eyre Highway crosses the Nullarbor Plain in Australia.


Who crossed the Nullarbor?

Edward Eyre became the first European to cross from east to west, when he crossed the Nullarbor Plain in 1840-41.


Was Edward Eyre a explorer?

Edward Eyre was an Australian explorer. He was the first to cross the Nullarbor Plain, making the first overland journey from east to west.


31 Across which landform feature does the Eyre Highway pass?

The Eyre Highway passes through the Nullarbor Plain, a vast, treeless plain in southern Australia known for its flat and arid landscape.


Across which vast desert landscape does the Eyre Highway run?

The Eyre Highway crosses the Nullarbor Plain.


Was Eyre the first to cross Australia?

Eyre was not the first to cross Australia from south to north, which was his original goal. However, he was the first to cross Australia from "east to west", even though he didn't start from the eastern coast. He was the first to cross the Nullarbor plain to the west.


What was Edward John Eyre most known for?

Australian explorer Edward Eyre was arguably best known for his incredible feat of crossing the Nullarbor Plain from Streaky Bay, on the western coast of the Eyre Peninsula, to Albany, or King George's Sound, in Western Australia. Eyre was the first to travel across the Nullarbor Plain.


Did Edward John Eyre walk on Australia?

Yes, Edward John Eyre was an English explorer who traversed the Australian continent on various expeditions during the 19th century. Eyre is known for his journey from Adelaide to Albany in 1840-1841, during which he became the first European to cross the Nullarbor Plain.


How long did Edward John Eyre take to cross the Nullarbor?

Eyre departed on his journey across the Nullarbor in November 1840, and arrived at the west coast in July 1841. The journey took about 8 months.