Burke & Wills : the triumph and tragedy of Australia's most famous explorers
FitzSimons, Peter2018
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Melbourne, 20 August 1860. In an ambitious quest to be the first Europeans to cross the harsh Australian continent, the Victorian Exploring Expedition sets off, farewelled by 15,000 cheering well-wishers. Led by Robert O'Hara Burke, a brave man totally lacking in the bush skills necessary for his task; surveyor and meteorologist William Wills; and 17 others, the expedition took 20 tons of equipment carried on six wagons, 23 horses and 26 camels. Almost immediately plagued by disputes and sackings, the expeditioners battled the extremes of the Australian landscape and weather. In desperation, leaving the rest of the party at the expedition's depot on Coopers Creek, Burke, Wills and John King made a dash for the Gulf in December 1860. Bad luck and bad management would see them miss by just hours a rendezvous back at Coopers Creek, leaving them stranded in the wilderness. Only King survived to tell the tale.
Main title:
Burke & Wills : the triumph and tragedy of Australia's most famous explorers / Peter FitzSimons.
Author:
FitzSimons, Peter, author
Imprint:
London : Constable, 2018.
Collation:
xix, 700 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (black and white), maps (black and white) ; 24 cm
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:
9781472128997 (pbk)9781472128980 (ePub ebook)
Dewey class:
919.4'041919.4
Local class:
919.4
Language:
English
Subject:
BRN:
2198193