ROBERT O’HARA BURKE, WILLIAM
WILLS (1821–1861; 1834 –1861)
Burke and Wills are two of our most famous,
and tragic, explorers. The first to cross Australia
south–north in 1860–61, they died at Cooper
Creek in north-east SA on the return journey.
Australia’s most expensive expedition ever
mounted included two dozen camels,
two years of rations and six tonnes of firewood.THOMAS MITCHELL
(1792–1855)
Mitchell was an eminent
surveyor and explorer; he
laid out towns, roads and
reserves, filled gaps in
maps, and found much of
the best farmland in inland
Victoria and Queensland.EMILY CAROLINE
CREAGHE (1860 –1944)
Among the first female out-
back explorers, Creaghe (AG
88) was a member of an 1882
expedition across the Gulf of
Carpentaria. Her diary shows
remarkable tenacity and forti-
tude in trying circumstances.ANDREW HARPER (1963–)
Andrew’s passion for sand dunes
and saltbush has driven him to
explore more of the arid zone
than any modern desert traveller.
Since 1995, he’s led camels over
15,000km of Australia (AG 125),
including an east–west crossing
along the Tropic of Capricorn.A
USTRALIA’S interior is a formidable
foe. It demands an unbreakable
spirit and knowledge of the
intricacies of life in the outback. However,
the first European explorers came with
preconceived ideas: mountains are crossed
by valleys and passes, rivers led to the sea
and empty landscapes must be devoid of
life. They faced a steep learning curve and
their best tutors were Aboriginal guides.Trekking
the wilds:
Inland, deserts
and jungles58 Australian GeographicWylie (1824–1850)
JON MUIR (1961–)
Jon Muir and expedition partner Eric Philips
were the first Australians to trek to both poles
(AG 72). Jon has also climbed Mt Everest and
kayaked for thousands of kilometres along
coastlines and across Lake Eyre. But perhaps
his greatest challenges have involved crossing
Australia’s deserts, without external support.A RESOURCEFUL EXPLORER and Aboriginal guide, Wylie was a friend to
Edward John Eyre, joining him on the east–west Nullarbor crossing in- Wylie was born in about 1824 on the West Australian coast, and
was 16 when Eyre asked him to accompany him from Adelaide to Albany.
They had 1300km of rough desert to cross, and Eyre took only overseer
John Baxter, Wylie, and two other Aboriginal men, Joey and Yarry. The
Nullarbor sorely tested them, providing little shade or water. Midway
through, tempers frayed as meagre supplies and extreme conditions took
their toll. Joey and Yarry killed Baxter, raided the stores and fl ed, leaving
Wylie and Eyre with few supplies. Wylie remained loyal to Eyre, helping
to fi nd the horses, shooting kangaroos and birds for food, and collecting
yams to keep them alive. He was commended for remaining faithful and
was awarded a medal, some money and weekly rations.
WYLIE: STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA; MUIR: IAN DARLING; BURKE & WILLS: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA; MITCHELL: COURTESY AM; CREAGHE: STATE LIBRARY OF NSW; HARPER: COURTESY ANDREW HARPER