Why did Edward John Eyre explore?

Answer 1

Edward John Eyre did not travel across the Great Australian Bight. He was not a seafaring explorer. He travelled across the Nullarbor Plain, which is the desert area north of the Great Australian Bight.

Eyre hoped to be the first to cross Australia from south to north. He was unlucky enough to find his way blocked by saltpans as far as he could see, so assumed - incorrectly - that the entire inland of Australia was a huge horseshoe shaped salt lake. He did not realise that there were breaks between the lakes. Because he was unable to travel north, he was determined to achieve something new for the colony of South Australia. This is why he chose to be the first to make the crossing from east to west.

Answer 2

Edward Eyre's main reason for exploring was that he wanted to help advance the new colony of South Australia. He had learnt skills in overlanding sheep and cattle and his interest in exploration began as a result of his unsuccessful attempt to be the first to overland stock -1000 sheep and 600 cattle - from Sydney to South Australia. Although it was a drought year and he was stopped by lack of water, it only made him more keen to achieve something memorable.

He made several journeys north of Adelaide, where he found some suitable land. He next turned to the aim of being the first to cross Australia from south to north. He hoped this might open up more land in South Australia. He was unlucky enough to find his way blocked by saltpans as far as he could see, so assumed - incorrectly - that the entire inland of Australia was a huge salt lake. He did not realise that there were breaks between the lakes.

His final attempt to achieve something new for the colony of South Australia involved his attempt to be the first to cross overland to the west. He succeeded in this, but did not find any new good pastureland. However, thirty years later, his route was surveyed by John Forrest. As the main route from eastern Australia overland to the west, it needed to be surveyed so a road could be built, and later a railway.