Who as Edward John Eyre?
explorer grazier, (cattle) ,grazier (sheep) Indigenous culture recorder, magistrate ,overlander protector of Aboriginals.
Eyre's Expedition
Edward John Eyre (and his Aboriginal friend, Wylie - an aboriginal tracker) was the first European men to travel from east to west Australia.
Eyre conducted multiple small expeditions in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. In these expeditions, Eyre hoped to find good sheep country. An expedition was planned, in March 1841, that would hopefully open up a route to take cattle overland and because of Eyre's bush skills he was approached to be the leader. He took 6 white men, 2 Aboriginals, 13 horses, 40 sheep, his friend Wylie and his station manager, Baxter. The men had enough supplies to last three months.
The conditions were harsh and forced Eyre to decide to send all his team members back to Adelaide except for, Baxter, Wylie and two Aboriginals along with 11 pack horses and 6 sheep.
As the men reached The Great Australian Bight, they were short of water and food. Luckily, they were saved by friendly Aboriginals who showed Eyre to find water by digging behind sand dunes on the sea shore and how to break off roots of gumtrees and suck them to relieve their thirst. The explores travelled along The Great Australian Bight for five days without success of finding water, They crossed Nullarbor Plain and Eyre was the first European to cross this plain .
Water was very scarce and travelling was becoming excessively difficult. The pack horses found it difficult travelling through the sand so some horses and supplies and clothing were left behind. One of the sick horses was used for food which made Eyre and Baxter very ill.
The weather was cold due to winter and the explores had very little to keep them warm, the two Aboriginals travelling with them, started causing trouble and they killed Baxter and stole the remains of the ammunition, weapons and any supplies. Wylie refused to go with the two and they disappeared into the bush. Eyre could not bury Baxter due to the ground being solid rock.
Eyre and Wylie left immediately. They travelled for 7 days until they found a native water hole. they survived by killing and eating kangaroos and a dead penguin the found on the shore. They continued on for another month until in June 1841, they found a French Whaling ship anchored off the coast, here they rested for a fortnight and the captain, an Englishman called Rossiter provided the two men with food, water and clothes and some wine and brandy. In July, they reached Albany after a 4 and 1/2 months of traveling 1300 kilometres through harsh desolate country through heavy rains and cold weather. Eyre was award a gold medal of the Royal Geographic Society for this amazing journey and Wiley was rewarded a pension and he remained in Albany.
Eyre conducted multiple small expeditions in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. In these expeditions, Eyre hoped to find good sheep country. An expedition was planned, in March 1841, that would hopefully open up a route to take cattle overland and because of Eyre's bush skills he was approached to be the leader. He took 6 white men, 2 Aboriginals, 13 horses, 40 sheep, his friend Wylie and his station manager, Baxter. The men had enough supplies to last three months.
The conditions were harsh and forced Eyre to decide to send all his team members back to Adelaide except for, Baxter, Wylie and two Aboriginals along with 11 pack horses and 6 sheep.
As the men reached The Great Australian Bight, they were short of water and food. Luckily, they were saved by friendly Aboriginals who showed Eyre to find water by digging behind sand dunes on the sea shore and how to break off roots of gumtrees and suck them to relieve their thirst. The explores travelled along The Great Australian Bight for five days without success of finding water, They crossed Nullarbor Plain and Eyre was the first European to cross this plain .
Water was very scarce and travelling was becoming excessively difficult. The pack horses found it difficult travelling through the sand so some horses and supplies and clothing were left behind. One of the sick horses was used for food which made Eyre and Baxter very ill.
The weather was cold due to winter and the explores had very little to keep them warm, the two Aboriginals travelling with them, started causing trouble and they killed Baxter and stole the remains of the ammunition, weapons and any supplies. Wylie refused to go with the two and they disappeared into the bush. Eyre could not bury Baxter due to the ground being solid rock.
Eyre and Wylie left immediately. They travelled for 7 days until they found a native water hole. they survived by killing and eating kangaroos and a dead penguin the found on the shore. They continued on for another month until in June 1841, they found a French Whaling ship anchored off the coast, here they rested for a fortnight and the captain, an Englishman called Rossiter provided the two men with food, water and clothes and some wine and brandy. In July, they reached Albany after a 4 and 1/2 months of traveling 1300 kilometres through harsh desolate country through heavy rains and cold weather. Eyre was award a gold medal of the Royal Geographic Society for this amazing journey and Wiley was rewarded a pension and he remained in Albany.
Eyre's impact on Australia
Edward john Eyre discovered and mapped the rote between Adelaide and Perth (now know as the Eyre highway)he contributed a lot to the development of Australia he also discovered lake Eyre.