A Tragic End: Burke and Wills

On the 20th of August 1860, laden with what seemed like a sea of camels, horses and supplies, the Victorian Exploring Expedition set off from Royal Park in Melbourne. The party, led by Robert O’Hara Burke was intent on chasing the ultimate and as yet unmet goal on the heart of every Australian explorer; to be the first to cross the continent from south to north. Pushing through inclement weather, sick animals, cantankerous team-mates and every conceivable obstacle the Australian bush could throw at them, the party was nearly successful. They were nearly successful because Burke and three others, managed to make it to the northern coast of Australia, right up to the Gulf of Carpentaria but they never made it home. Today many historians view the Burke and Wills expedition as an unmitigated disaster. So, what really happened on that ill-fated expedition? And can we learn anything from it? Join us as we take a closer look at the adventures of Burke and Wills.