April 01
Australian Explorers Wednesday, April 1, 1874. : The Forrest brothers depart Geraldton in search of a stock route to the east. John Forrest was born on 22 August 1847 near Bunbury in Western Australia. Between the years of 1869 to 1874, Forrest led three expeditions, two of them with his brother Alexander (born 1849), to explore the […]
April 09
Australian History Sunday, April 9, 1865. : Ruthless bushranger “Mad” Dan Morgan is shot dead. It is unknown on which date, exactly, Dan Morgan was born, but it is believed that he was born in 1830, and adopted in 1832 by John Roberts, with whom he stayed until the age of 17. Morgan’s first job was as […]
April 21
Australian Explorers Sunday, April 21, 1861. : Explorers Burke, Wills and King stagger into their base camp at Cooper Creek upon their return from the Gulf of Carpentaria, and find it deserted. Robert O’Hara Burke and William Wills led the expedition that was intended to bring fame and prestige to Victoria: being the first to cross Australia […]
April 14
Born on this day Saturday, April 14, 1860. : George Robertson, co-founder of Australia’s largest bookseller, Angus and Robertson, is born. George Robertson was born on 14 April 1860 in Scotland. At age 21 he emigrated to Australia, arriving in February 1882, and within four days had secured himself a position working at a Sydney bookshop. Within […]
April 06
Australian Explorers Friday, April 6, 1860. : Stuart discovers and names Chambers Pillar, in central Australia. John McDouall Stuart was born in Dysart, Fife, Scotland, on 7 September 1815. He arrived in South Australia in 1839. He had a passion for exploration and gained experience when he was employed as a draughtsman by Captain Charles Sturt on […]
April 04
Australian Explorers Tuesday, April 4, 1848. : Leichhardt departs Roma, Queensland, on his third and final expedition, never to be seen again. Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt was born on October 23, 1813, in Trebatsch, Prussia (now Brandenburg, Germany). His thirst for knowledge led him to study philosophy, languages and natural sciences in Germany. Although he never received […]
April 24
Australian Explorers Friday, April 24, 1846. : Major Mitchell discovers the Maranoa River. Major Thomas Mitchell was born in Craigend, Scotland, in 1792. He came to Australia after serving in the Army during the Napoleonic Wars, and took up the position of Surveyor-General of New South Wales. He undertook four separate expeditions into the NSW interior. Mitchell […]
April 20
Australian Explorers Saturday, April 20, 1839. : George Grey’s expedition is saved by friendly Aborigines. Sir George Edward Grey, born 14 April 1812, was Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony (South Africa), Premier of New Zealand and a writer. Prior to his political career, however, he was an explorer to […]
April 17
Australian Explorers Friday, April 17, 1835. : Richard Cunningham, brother to Allan Cunningham, is killed by Aborigines whilst exploring with Major Mitchell. Richard Cunningham, younger brother to botanist and explorer Allan Cunningham, was born in Wimbledon, England, on 12 February 1793. He travelled to Sydney, Australia, where he was appointed Colonial Botanist and Superintendent of Botanic Gardens, […]
April 30
Australian Explorers Saturday, April 30, 1831. : Captain Collet Barker, original discoverer of the site for Adelaide, is killed by indigenous Australians. Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia, the only Australian state to have been founded by free settlers, remaining entirely free of convicts since its establishment. The site of Adelaide was originally determined by […]