5A The journal of Robert O'Hara Burke

Summary

In 1860, an ambitious expedition set off to be the first to cross Australia from south to north, with 19 men, 26 camels, and 23 horses. Despite the initial excitement, the journey proved perilous. The explorers faced slow progress, extreme heat, and mounting losses. By 1861, after reaching the Gulf of Carpentaria, they struggled to return, finding that their companions had abandoned them. Tragically, the expedition’s leaders, Burke and Wills, died after reaching Cooper's Creek, marking a somber end to their historic attempt. Their bodies were returned in 1862, immortalizing their tragic fate.

Takeaways

• 😀 £2,000 reward offered for the first successful south-north crossing of the Australian continent, issued by the South Australian government in 1859.
• 😀 The expedition, led by Robert O'Hara Burke, set off from Royal Park on August 20, 1860, with 19 men, 26 camels, 23 horses, 6 wagons, and 20 tons of supplies.
• 😀 By September 24, 1860, the camels were loaded with supplies, and the men began their journey on foot, ready to face the challenges ahead.
• 😀 On November 2, 1860, Burke learned that John McDouall Stuart had started his own crossing of the continent, which caused concern about their slow progress.
• 😀 In response to the slow pace, Burke and his second-in-command William Wills decided to push ahead with a smaller group to Kooper's Creek, leaving the rest behind.
• 😀 On December 15, 1860, Burke and Wills reached Kooper's Creek, where they planned to rest before continuing north, with Brahe in charge of the remaining men.
• 😀 On February 9, 1861, Burke and Wills reached the swamps near the Gulf of Carpentaria, and though they were running low on supplies, the journey seemed manageable.
• 😀 By April 17, 1861, the return journey was becoming increasingly difficult, with unbearable heat and the loss of camels and men, signaling the decline of the expedition.
• 😀 On April 21, 1861, Burke and Wills returned to Kooper's Creek to find that Brahe and the others had already left, despite being instructed to wait 13 weeks.
• 😀 Tragically, Burke and Wills died shortly after reaching Kooper's Creek, and their bodies were brought back in 1862, marking the end of the ill-fated expedition, though they were the first Europeans to attempt the crossing.

Q & A

What was the reward for the first successful south-north crossing of the Australian continent?

A £2,000 reward was issued by the South Australian government for the first successful south-north crossing of the continent.

When did the expedition set off and where did it begin?

The expedition set off early on 20th August 1860 from Royal Park, where a large crowd had gathered.

How many men, camels, horses, and wagons were part of the expedition?

The expedition consisted of 19 men, 26 camels, 23 horses, and six wagons, carrying around 20 tons of equipment and supplies for two years.

What was the initial goal of the expedition, and what was the challenge that concerned the leader?

The goal of the expedition was to cross the Australian continent from south to north. The leader was concerned about the slow progress of the journey and feared they were traveling slower than expected.

Why did the leader decide to split the expedition group on 2nd November 1860?

The leader decided to split the group to travel faster towards Kooper's Creek, taking the seven strongest men and horses, while leaving the others behind to catch up later.

What did the expedition achieve by 9th February 1861?

By 9th February 1861, the expedition reached the swamps and found the Gulf of Carpentaria to be very near. They were in good weather, but running low on supplies.

What happened on 17th April 1861 during the return journey?

On 17th April 1861, the return journey became increasingly difficult due to unbearable heat, and the expedition lost many camels and some men.

What was the situation when they reached Kooper's Creek on 21st April 1861?

When they reached Kooper's Creek on 21st April 1861, the leader and his team were disappointed to find that Brahe and the others had left, despite being instructed to wait for 13 weeks. The team had been gone for 18 weeks, leaving only a note and buried supplies.

What tragic event occurred after the expedition returned to Sydney?

After the expedition returned to Sydney, the bodies of Robert O'Hara Burke and William Wills were found. They had died shortly after reaching Kooper's Creek during their journey home.

What does the script suggest about the fate of Burke and Wills?

The script suggests that Burke and Wills were the first Europeans to attempt the crossing but tragically died during the return journey after reaching Kooper's Creek, with their efforts ending in failure.