Map of Burke and Wills' route from Cooper's Creek to Carpentaria

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Type: Maps
Date: 1861
Place: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; South Australia, Australia; Queensland, Australia; New South Wales, Australia; Victoria, Australia
Materials: Ink, Paper
Collection: Burke and Wills collection
Accession number: 2007.0106.0002

Description

A map in black ink on white paper, which is stained, titled 'MAP OF / BURKE & WILLS' ROUTE / FROM COOPER'S CREEK TO CARPENTARIA / (Copied from the map prepared by Wills.) / Scale about 20 Miles to 1 Inch. / Lithographed at the Office of Lands & Survey, Melbourne, Victoria, Nov. 25th 1861 / by J. B. Philp & W. Collis'. Handwritten in ink on the reverse is the text, 'Burke & Wills / Depot to Carpentaria'.

About the collection

The Burke and Wills Collection comprises a map of Burke & Wills' route from Cooper's Creek to Carpentaria, compiled from the map prepared by William Wills and lithographed at the Office of Lands & Survey in 1861. The second item is a copy of George von Neumayer's Results of the Magnetical, Nautical and Meteorological Observations made and collected at the Flagstaff Observatory, Melbourne, and at various stations in the Colony of Victoria. March, 1858, to February, 1859. This copy of the survey belonged to William Wills, his name and the date, July 31st 1860, is on the title-page above his black wax seal. In 1860, the new colony of Victoria, flush with goldfields wealth and confidence decided to enter the field of exploration and mounted what was hoped to be the first successful crossing of the continent from south to north. The Victorian Exploring Expedition, the best equipped in Australia's history, set off from Royal Park in Melbourne on 20 August 1860, farewelled by 15,000 Victorians. Irish born former soldier, Robert O'Hara Burke had little exploration or navigation experience but was chosen as expedition leader. William Wills was the expedition surveyor and astronomer. With two team members, John King and Charley Gray they left the main party and set out for the Gulf of Carpentaria on 11 February 1861 after many challenges, several setbacks and mismanagement by Robert Burke. They reached their goal but Gray, Burke and Wills died on the return journey. King, near death, was cared for by Aboriginals until rescued by a relief expedition. The tragic fate of the Burke and Wills party was made known to the world. King was given a public welcome on his return to Melbourne but never recovered from the ordeal.

Read live from the Museum's Collection API (12/11/2026, 5:06:14 am). Record last updated by the Museum 2026-09-30. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.