Author: WILLS, WILLIAM JOHN:
Title: A successful exploration through the interior of Australia, from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. From the journals and letters of W.J. Wills. Edited by his father, William Wills. London, Richard Bentley, 1863.
Description: . Pp. iii-xii, 396. Half-title is missing. With one engraved frontispiece, one portrait and one folding map (with small tear without loss). Slightly later half green calf on marbled boards, matching endpapers and edges, spine gilt, binding rubbed. Plates slightly foxed and title page browned. Wills, a surveyor and astronomer, together with Robert O'Hara Burke were the first white men to cross the Australian continent (from south to north). Their expedition did not contribute to any geographical knowledge, even though the "Victorian Exploring Expedition" was the largest and the most expensive expedition yet seen in Australia. The prime objective of the expedition was to beat the Stuart's South Australian expedition. They travelled from Melbourne in 1860 via Cooper's Creek to reach the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1861. Both died on the return journey during their attempt to reach Mount Hopeless and the northern settlements of South Australia. However, they became national heroes for their exploits. Ferguson 18622. Wantrup 172.

Keywords: Oceania incl. Pacific, australia, australiana, travel, travels, voyage, exploration,


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