FIRST CROSSING OF AUSTRALIA.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 16, Issue 92, 28 November 1902, Page 2

FIRST CROSSING OF AUSTRALIA.

Although Portugal had discovered parts of Australia as far back as the sixteenth century, and the Dutch made further discoveries in the seventeenth century, there are yet portions of the mainland not yet fully explored. Indeed, it was not till 1861 that it was first crossed from south to north. In 1858 a South Australian colonist named J. McD. Stuart penetrated to a distance of 500 miles inland, in a north-west direction from Spencer Gulph, discovering some good grazing land, several mountain ranges, and numerous small streams and salt' lagoons. He concluded that such expeditions might be extended to any distance, could he get companions like himself, content to subsist on a small quantity of food, without hampering themselves with much baggage. In 1860 he got two such mates, with whom he crossed the centre of the country, as far as Lat. 18—40, but was compelled "to retrace his steps owing to the hostility of the native ' tribes. On his return with an account of his travels, the Government acceded to his request, and sent him forth with four companions properly equipped. "Without any serious mishap, the journey was successfully accomplished on July 19, 1862, when the little bandi of explorers stood upon the shores of Van Diemen's Gulf, upwards of 1,500 miles in a straight line from their starting point. They were not the first, however, to travel from sea to sea across this vast island-continent. That geographical exploit had been achieved in the year 1861 by a party of explorers from Melbourne, under the leadership of Burke, a Superintendent of the Victorian Mounted Police, who was accompanied by Wills, a surveyor and astronomer ; Beckler, medical officer and geologist ; Becker artist and naturalist ; King and eight associates ; Purcell and Gray, working men ; and three Indian Sepoys in charge of six camels. A cumbrous, expensive expedition, and though the object was attained, the whole party suffered disaster. The camels were lost, the majority of the men turned back, or were left behind .ere they reached half-way 'across, while three died of scurvy. Out of the remainder, only four had strength and courage to prosecute the journey. They crossed the central region between 300 and 400 miles east of Stuart's Track, and reached the head of the Gulf of Carpentaria on Feburary 11, 1861—a month previous to the departure of the more compact Soxith Australian expedition.

Stuart returned to enjoy his wellearned fame. The fate of the earlier party was most painful. Burke and Wills, with the men Gray and King, reached the northern coast; but of this remnant' of a great party only King returned to give an account of the fate of its gallant leader, who with his no less worthy coadjutor, Wills, died on their return to the south, when within 150 miles of the settled districts. The result of these exploration parties show that a small, lightly equipped party is better for such expeditions than those that are large and heavily furnished. While the fate of these explorers remained uncertain, of Victoria , and of New South Wales each sent expeditions to the head of Carpentaria Gulf, to succor them if possible, and return overland. Two parties under Landsborough and McKinlay started from a northern point. Another, under Howitt, proceeded from' the south, and were fortunate in rescuing King from an untimely fate at Cooper's Creek ; but were too late to save the lives of Burke and Wills, whose remains were found on the banks of that stream.