P005449 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Event created 2014-12-02 human Helen Cohn updated 2026-04-29 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P005449b.htm event Victorian Exploring Expedition AACR2 Burke and Wills Exploring Expedition 20 August 1860 1861 Australian inland exploration The Victorian Exploring Expedition was organised by the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria). The Committee, which started its work in 1857, comprised prominent members of the Institute and Society including Victoria's leading scientists. In the context of speculation about a possible overland telegraph route and inter-colonial rivalry in the matter of inland exploration, the objective of the Expedition was to make the first crossing of the Australian continent from south to north. This was the first time camels were used in Australian exploration. Under the inexperienced leadership of Robert O'Hara Burke, the Expedition departed from Melbourne on 20 August 1860. After establishing base camps at Menindee on the Darling River and on Cooper Creek, Burke and a small party made the successful trek to reach the Gulf of Carpentaria. On the return journey Burke, Charles Gray and William Wills died of starvation while John King survived because of the care he received from the local Aborigines. Although the Expedition achieved its objective, a Royal Commission was convened which revealed the extent of mismanagement. Hermann Beckler, medical officer and botanist of the Expedition, remained at the Menindee camp: the botanical specimens he collected are in the National Herbarium of Victoria. The Expedition was funded by the Victorian Government and public donations. Between June and December 1861 four relief expeditions set out to determine the fate of the Victorian Exploring Expedition. The Expedition Committee completed its final financial report in 1873.

Interpretive sign on the O'Keefe Rail Trail between Bendigo and Heathcote, Victoria. Photographed 2026
Interpretive sign on the O'Keefe Rail Trail between Bendigo and Heathcote, Victoria.
Image: Gavan McCarthy 2026

 Stawell, William Foster (1815 - 1889)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria) 1858 - 1873

 Macadam, John (1827 - 1865)

Member 1857 - 1858, and Secretary 1858 - 1865, of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria)

 Ligar, Charles Whybrow (1811 - 1881)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria) 1858 - 1866

 McMillan, Angus (1810 - 1865)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria) 1858 - 1862

 Mueller, Ferdinand Jakob Heinrich von (1825 - 1896)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria) 1857 - 1873

 McCoy, Frederick (1817 - 1899)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria) 1857 - 1862

 Eades, Richard (1809 - 1867)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria) 1858 - 1862

 Elliott, Sizar (1814 - 1901)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria) 1857 - 1862

 Hodgkinson, Clement (1818 - 1893)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Royal Society of Victoria 1861 - 1862

 Wilkie, David Elliot (1815 - 1885)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria) 1857 - 1861

 Selwyn, Alfred Richard Cecil (1824 - 1902)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria) 1857 - 1866

 Clarke, Andrew (1824 - 1902)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria 1857 - 1858

 Royal Society of Victoria (1859 - )

The Exploration Committee was a subcommittee of the Society 1859 - 1873

 Neumayer, Georg Balthasar von (1826 - 1909)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria) 1857 - 1861

 Philosophical Institute of Victoria (1855 - 1859)

The Exploration Committee was a subcommittee of the Institute 1857 - 1859

 National Herbarium of Victoria (1896 - )

Herman Beckler's specimens from the Victorian Exploring Expedition are in the Herbarium

 Beckler, Hermann (1828 - 1914)

Botanist and medical officer 1860 - 1861

 Becker, Ludwig (1808 - 1861)

Artist, naturalist and geographer 1860 - 1861

 Bleasdale, John Ignatius (1822 - 1884)

Member of the Exploration Committee 1857 - 1873

 Burke, Robert O'Hara (1821 - 1861)

Leader of the Expedition 1860 - 1861

 Cadell, Francis (1822 - 1879)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria) 1859 - 1862

 Wills, William John (1834 - c. 1861)

Member of the Expedition 1860 - 1861

 Victorian Exploring Expedition (1860-18611231)

Trove

 'Victorian Exploring Expedition', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Victorian Exploring Expedition Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Conference Paper: "Surgeon" Wills of the Burke and Wills Expedition Gardner-Thorpe, D.; Gardner-Thorpe C.; and Pearn, J. "Surgeon" Wills of the Burke and Wills Expedition Brisbane Society of the History of Medicine 1996 History, Heritage and Health: Proceedings of the Fourth Biennial Conference of the Australian Society of the History of Medicine, Norfolk Island, 2-9 July, 1995 Covacevich, Jeanette, Pearn, John, Case, Donna, Chapple, Ian and Phillips, Gael 345-350 Book: Starvation in a Land of Plenty: Wills' Diary of the Fateful Burke and Wills Expedition Cathcart, Michael Starvation in a Land of Plenty: Wills' Diary of the Fateful Burke and Wills Expedition Canberra National Library of Australia 2012 Book Section: Zoology: an Encounter With the Fauna of Australia's Unique Arid Environment Mace, Bernard, et al Zoology: an Encounter With the Fauna of Australia's Unique Arid Environment Collingwood CSIRO Publishing 2011 Burke and Wills: the Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition in Joyce, E. Bernie and McCann, Douglas A. 130-206 Book Section: William John Wills as Scientist Leahy, Frank William John Wills as Scientist Collingwood CSIRO Publishing 2011 Burke and Wills: the Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition Joyce, E. Bernie and McCann, Douglas A. 23-57 Journal Article: Locating the "Plant Camp" of the Burke and Wills Expedition Leahy, F. Locating the "Plant Camp" of the Burke and Wills Expedition 2007 Journal of Spatial Science 52 2 1-12 Book Section: Geology, Soils and Landscapes of the Expedition Route Joyce, E. Bernie and Mccann, Douglas A. Geology, Soils and Landscapes of the Expedition Route Collingwood CSIRO Publishing 2011 Burke and Wills: the Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition Joyce, E. Bernie and McCann, Douglas A. 58-96 Book: Burke and Wills: the Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition Joyce, E. Bernie and Mccann, Douglas A. Burke and Wills: the Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition Collingwood CSIRO Publishing 2011 Book: The Dig Tree: the Story of Burke and Wills Murgatroyd, Sara The Dig Tree: the Story of Burke and Wills Melbourne Text Publishing 2000 Book Section: The Botanical Legacy of Ferdinand Mueller and Hermann Beckler Gillbank, Linden The Botanical Legacy of Ferdinand Mueller and Hermann Beckler Collingwood CSIRO Publishing 2011 Burke and Wills: the Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition Joyce, E. Bernie and McCann, Douglas A. 97-129 Book Section: The Art of the Victorian Exploring Expedition Ninnis, Elizabeth The Art of the Victorian Exploring Expedition Collingwood CSIRO Publishing 2011 Burke and Wills: the Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition Joyce, E. Bernie and McCann, Douglas A. 312-27 Book Section: Burke, Robert O'Hara (1821-1861), explorer Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Burke, Robert O'Hara (1821-1861), explorer Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1969 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 3: 1851 - 1890 A-C Douglas Pike 301-303 Journal Article: The Burke and Wills Expedition and the Royal Society of Victoria Fitzpatrick, Kathleen The Burke and Wills Expedition and the Royal Society of Victoria 1963 Historical Studies 40 May Book: The Supply Party: Ludwig Becker on the Burke and Wills Expedition Edmond, Martin The Supply Party: Ludwig Becker on the Burke and Wills Expedition Adelaide East Street Publications 2009 Edited Book: The Aboriginal Story of Burke and Wills: Forgotten Narratives Clark, Ian D.; and Cahir, Fred The Aboriginal Story of Burke and Wills: Forgotten Narratives Collingwood, Vic. CSIRO 2013 Book: Burke and Wills: from Melbourne to myth Bonyhady, Tim Burke and Wills: from Melbourne to myth Balmain (N.S.W.) David Ell Press 1991 Book Section: The Space Between: Aboriginal People, the Victorian Exploring Expedition and the Relief Parties Allen, Harry The Space Between: Aboriginal People, the Victorian Exploring Expedition and the Relief Parties Collingwood CSIRO Publishing 2011 Burke and Wills: the Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition Joyce, E. Bernie and McCann, Douglas A. 245-74 Journal Article: Paper trails: the navigational records of the Burke and Wills Expedition in the State Library of Victoria Hayes, G. Paper trails: the navigational records of the Burke and Wills Expedition in the State Library of Victoria 1996 La Trobe Library Journal 58 14-8 Journal Article: "Surgeon" Wills of the Burke and Wills Expedition 1860-1861: New Research and a Medical Perspective of William John Wills (1834-1861) Pearn, John "Surgeon" Wills of the Burke and Wills Expedition 1860-1861: New Research and a Medical Perspective of William John Wills (1834-1861) 2012 Queensland History Journal 21 8 522-36 Journal Article: 'All Burke's Books &c Have Been Saved': the Burke and Wills Papers in the State Library of Victoria Phoenix, Dave 'All Burke's Books &c Have Been Saved': the Burke and Wills Papers in the State Library of Victoria 2010 La Trobe Journal 86 3-22 Book Section: Biographies of the Principal Scientists Phoenix, Dave Biographies of the Principal Scientists Collingwood CSIRO Publishing 2011 Burke and Wills: the Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition Joyce, E. Bernie and McCann, Douglas A. 296-301 Journal Article: 'It is During My Stay in This City that I learned of the Tragic Outcome of the Expedition of O'Hara Burke': Jean-Baptiste Desparmet's Account of the Burke and Wills Expedition Sheehan, Colin 'It is During My Stay in This City that I learned of the Tragic Outcome of the Expedition of O'Hara Burke': Jean-Baptiste Desparmet's Account of the Burke and Wills Expedition 2012 Queensland History Journal 21 8 551-64 Parliamentary paper: Report of the Commissioners appointed to enquire into and report upon the circumstances connected with the sufferings and death of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills, the Victorian explorers Burke and Wills Commission Report of the Commissioners appointed to enquire into and report upon the circumstances connected with the sufferings and death of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills, the Victorian explorers Melbourne John Ferres, Government Printer 1862 Book Section: Conflicting Priorities: Exploration, Science, Politics and Personal Ambition McCann, Douglas A.; and Joyce, E. Bernie Conflicting Priorities: Exploration, Science, Politics and Personal Ambition Collingwood CSIRO Publishing 2011 Burke and Wills: the Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition in Joyce, E. Bernie and McCann, Douglas A. 1-22 Book: Ludwig Becker : artist & naturalist with the Burke & Wills expedition Tipping, Marjorie Ludwig Becker : artist & naturalist with the Burke & Wills expedition Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1979 Journal Article: John King: an Ulster Explorer Who Became the First Person to Cross Australia Pearn, John John King: an Ulster Explorer Who Became the First Person to Cross Australia 2012 Queensland History Journal 21 8 510-22 Book: The Burke and Wills exploring expedition: an account of the crossing of the continent from Cooper's Creek to the Gulf of Carpentaria: reprinted from "The Argus" The Burke and Wills exploring expedition: an account of the crossing of the continent from Cooper's Creek to the Gulf of Carpentaria: reprinted from "The Argus" facsimile Adelaide State Libraries Board of South Australia 1963, reprinted 1971 Book: A successful exploration through the interior of Australia; edited by his father, William Wills Willis, W. J. A successful exploration through the interior of Australia; edited by his father, William Wills London Richard Bentley 1863 Thesis: Some Foundations of Science in Victoria in the Decade After Separation Cohn, Helen M. Some Foundations of Science in Victoria in the Decade After Separation Melbourne University of Melbourne 1990 Journal Article: The Victorian Exploring Expedition and Relieving Expeditions McLaren, I. F. The Victorian Exploring Expedition and Relieving Expeditions 1959 Victorian Historical Magazine 29 Journal Article: Instructions furnished to the scientific observers attached to the Victorian Exploring Expedition - surveyor, astronomer, meteorologist, geologist, mineralogist, zoologist and botanist Transactions and proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria Instructions furnished to the scientific observers attached to the Victorian Exploring Expedition - surveyor, astronomer, meteorologist, geologist, mineralogist, zoologist and botanist Transactions and proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 1860 Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 5 lxviii-lxxiv Journal Article: Instructions to Robert O'Hara Burke, esq, Leader, Victorian Exploring Expedition Instructions to Robert O'Hara Burke, esq, Leader, Victorian Exploring Expedition 1860 Transactions and proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 5 lxv-lxvii Journal Article: The Botany of the Victoria Exploring Expedition (September 1860-June 1861) and of Relief Contingents from Victoria (July 1861-Noveber 1862) Willis, J. H. The Botany of the Victoria Exploring Expedition (September 1860-June 1861) and of Relief Contingents from Victoria (July 1861-Noveber 1862) 1962 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 75 247-268 Journal Article: Burke and Wills: an Overview of the Expedition, its Preparation, Planning and Outcomes Phoenix, Dave Burke and Wills: an Overview of the Expedition, its Preparation, Planning and Outcomes 2012 Queensland History Journal 21 8 497-509 Book: The discovery and exploration of Australia Feeken, Erwin H. J.; Feeken, Gerda E. E.; and Spate, O. H. K. The discovery and exploration of Australia Melbourne Thomas Nelson (Australia) 1970