The Burke and Wills expedition [list of articles]

Arrival of Burke, Wills and King (painting by John Longstaff, 1907) — *Arrival of Burke, Wills and King at the deserted camp at Cooper’s Creek, Sunday evening, 21st April 1861* (by John Longstaff, 1907)

The Burke and Wills expedition was created with the aim of exploring the Australian interior and finding a suitable path for the Australian Overland Telegraph Line. The expedition of nineteen men departed from Royal Park, Melbourne, on 20 August 1860, led by Robert O’Hara Burke. Burke split his party at Cooper’s Creek, and continued on towards the Gulf of Carpentaria. He made it to the mangrove swamps of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and then began the arduous return journey.

During the long trek southward, Burke’s party began to run low on food. Burke, Wills, and King made it back to Cooper’s Creek on 21 April, approximately nine hours after the other group had left. After a day of recuperation, Burke struck out for Mount Hopeless on 23 April. Burke and Wills died on that journey; however, King was saved by some friendly Aborigines, who took him in. On 15 September 1861, a rescue party (led by Alfred Howitt) found King.

Robert O’Hara Burke, leader of the Burke and Wills expedition — Robert O’Hara Burke, leader (of the Burke and Wills expedition)

Whilst the Burke and Wills expedition turned out to be a tragedy, it was also very useful for the information about the north of Australia that was uncovered — by the original group, as well by the rescue parties which went out to find them. It was due to the bravery of men like Burke and Wills that the exploration of the country was carried out, which therefore enabled the creation of modern Australia.

For a essay about the expedition, see: The Burke and Wills expedition (1860-1861).

Articles about the Burke and Wills expedition:
Various articles relating to the Burke and Wills expedition (1860-1861).
(Arranged in chronological order.)

A Tribute to the Memory of Burke and Wills [broadsheet, 1862]
This broadsheet about the Burke and Wills includes three articles (“Robert O’Hara Burke”, “William John Wills”, and “Central Australia: Origin and results of the Victorian exploration expedition”), Burke’s last letter, a brief chronology of the expedition, and two poems (“The Fate of the Explorers” by Henry Kendall, and “The Explorer’s Grave” by J. Sheridan Moore).

The Fate of the Explorers [poem by Henry Kendall]
This poem by Henry Kendall was published in Poems and Songs (1862).

The Burke and Wills Expedition: One of a Series of Poems [by a Native of Australia, 1863]
An eight-page booklet consisting of an anonymously-authored poem regarding the Burke and Wills expedition.

The fate of O’Hara Burke [1 May 1875]
This article was written in response to some rumours about the Burke and Wills expedition.

King and the death of O’Hara Burke [letter from A. W. Howitt, 24 May 1875]
This letter from Alfred William Howitt (1830-1908), who led a rescue party in search of the Burke and Wills expedition, was written in response to some rumours about the expedition.

Burke and Wills [25 May 1875]
This article was written in response to some rumours about the Burke and Wills expedition.

Burke and Wills [poem by Laura Wilson, 17 February 1909]
A poem about the Burke and Wills expedition, written by Laura Wilson.

Burke and Wills [16 February 1910]
An article written for the 50th anniversary of the commencement of the Burke and Wills expedition.

Perished in desert: Story of Burke and Wills’ fatal exploring expedition recalled [19 June 1913]
This article, published in an American newspaper, is critical of Robert O’Hara Burke’s leadership during the Burke and Wills expedition.

Burke and Wills expedition [chapter 31 of “The story of Australia” by Martin Hambleton, 1935]

A grim fight for life [chapter 32 of “The story of Australia” by Martin Hambleton, 1935]

Last scenes of Burke and Wills tragedy [chapter 33 of “The story of Australia” by Martin Hambleton, 1935]

Further efforts to find Burke and Wills [chapter 34 of “The story of Australia” by Martin Hambleton, 1935]

Chapter 20 [A Short History of Australia, by Ernest Scott, 1936]
This chapter from A Short History of Australia (6th edition, 1936) by Professor Ernest Scott (1867-1939) includes a section about Burke and Wills.

Who was to blame for the tragedy of Burke and Wills? [25 April 1937]
This article is critical of Robert O’Hara Burke’s leadership during the Burke and Wills expedition.

Burke and Wills [book review, 12 June 1937]
A book review of Dig, by Frank Clune (an historical dramatisation of the Burke and Wills expedition).

Further reading:
Robert O’Hara Burke and William Wills, Australian Museum
Burke and Wills expedition, Wikipedia
Burke and Wills Web: Digital Research Archive
Dig: The Burke & Wills research gateway, State Library of Victoria
Burke and Wills expedition (chronology), Dig: The Burke & Wills research gateway (State Library of Victoria)
Burke and Wills: Botany’s untold success story, Australian Geographic
Burke and Wills expedition, The Dig Tree (Royal Historical Society of Queensland)
Burke and Wills: Have camels will travel, Culture Victoria
Guide to the papers of Burke and Wills, National Library of Australia