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The Triumph and Tragedy of Australia's Most Famous Explorers

Timothy Ward

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Published in Burke And Wills: The Triumph And Tragedy Of Australia S Most Famous Explorers

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The story of Australia's exploration is one of triumph and tragedy. Triumph, because the vast majority of expeditions were successful, and Australia was mapped and settled in a relatively short period of time. Tragedy, because many explorers lost their lives in the pursuit of knowledge and glory.

Burke and Wills: The triumph and tragedy of Australia's most famous explorers

by Peter FitzSimons

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Language	:	English
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One of the most famous of all Australian explorers was Ernest Giles. Giles was born in England in 1835, and he came to Australia in 1850. He quickly became involved in exploration, and he led a number of expeditions into the interior of the continent. In 1872, he became the first European to cross the Great Australian Bight, and he went on to explore the Western Desert and the Kimberley region. Giles was a skilled explorer and a gifted writer, and his accounts of his expeditions are still widely read today.

A Portrait Of Ernest Giles Burke And Wills: The Triumph And Tragedy Of Australia S Most Famous Explorers

Another famous Australian explorer was Ludwig Leichhardt. Leichhardt was born in Germany in 1818, and he came to Australia in 1841. He quickly became involved in exploration, and he led a number of expeditions into the interior of the continent. In 1844, he led an expedition from Sydney to Port Essington, and he became the first European to cross the continent from east to west. Leichhardt's expedition was a success, but he and his men were never seen again. It is believed that they were killed by Aboriginal Australians, but the exact circumstances of their deaths remain a mystery.

A Portrait Of Ludwig Leichhardt Burke And Wills: The Triumph And Tragedy Of Australia S Most Famous Explorers

One of the most tragic expeditions in Australian history was the Burke and Wills expedition. Burke and Wills were both Irishmen, and they came to Australia in 1858. They were commissioned by the Victorian government to lead an expedition to cross the continent from south to north. The expedition set out from Melbourne in August 1860, and it reached the Gulf of Carpentaria in February 1861. However, on the return journey, Burke and Wills became separated from their support party, and they died of starvation in the desert.

A Portrait Of Burke And Wills Burke And Wills: The Triumph And Tragedy Of Australia S Most Famous Explorers

Despite the tragedies, exploration continued in Australia throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. John Forrest was one of the most successful explorers of this period. Forrest was born in Western Australia in 1847, and he led a number of expeditions into the interior of the continent. In 1874, he became the first European to cross the Great Sandy Desert, and he went on to explore the Kimberley region and the Northern Territory. Forrest was a skilled explorer and a gifted administrator, and he played a major role in the development of Western Australia.

A Portrait Of John Forrest Burke And Wills: The Triumph And Tragedy Of Australia S Most Famous Explorers

Douglas Mawson was another famous Australian explorer. Mawson was born in England in 1882, and he came to Australia in 1905. He quickly became involved in exploration, and he led a number of expeditions into the Antarctic. In 1911, he led an expedition to the Adelie Land coast of Antarctica, and he became the first person to reach the South Magnetic Pole. Mawson was a skilled explorer and a gifted scientist, and his work helped to advance our knowledge of the Antarctic.

A Portrait Of Douglas Mawson Burke And Wills: The Triumph And Tragedy Of Australia S Most Famous Explorers