The Explorers Podcast

The Burke and Wills Expedition - Part 6 - The Return

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In part 6 of our series, Robert Burke and his comrades begin their journey from the northern coast of Australia to the depot at Cooper's Creek. They are low on supplies and their health is waning. Meanwhile, William Wright struggles to get the needed supplies to depot, where the health of William Brahe and his men is deteriorating.

People and Places

  • Robert O’Hara Burke – Leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE)
  • William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer. 2nd-in-command of the expedition.
  • Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent.
  • Hermann Beckler - German doctor and botanist.
  • Ludwig Becker - German geologist and naturalist.
  • William Wright - Bushman who joined the VEE at Menindee. Now leading the relief column to Cooper's Creek.
  • John King - 22-year old ex-soldier. Selected by Burke to be part of the contingent going to the north coast.
  • Thomas McDonough - VEE member who accompanied Burke and Wills to Cooper's Creek.
  • Charley Gray - VEE member who was selected to go with Burke and Wills to the north coast of Australia. 
  • Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne.
  • Menindee - Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne.
  • Gulf of Carpentaria - The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia - roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent.


    • Resources and links: https://explorerspodcast.com/

    Map: https://explorerspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/burke_and_wills_map.png

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    The Explorers PodcastBy Matt Breen
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