Overview

The period between 1830-60 in Australia was marked by a tremendous expansion of British colonial interests, from people to economic interests. It is also notable for a series of expeditions that helped the British discover what the continent's physical terrain was like. Closing this period was a tragic but ultimately influential expedition by Robert O'Hara Burke (1820?-1861).

Background

Robert Burke's commission by the Royal Society of Victoria to traverse the Australian continent was an odd one: Burke had no experience in exploration, knew nothing about the native inhabitants he would most likely encounter, and knew close to nothing about survival methods in unknown territories. Fortunately for him, Burke teamed up with William John Wills (1834-1861), a knowledgeable bushman and more experienced traveler.

The...