Robert O'Hara Burke

Burke and Wills Statue on the corner of

Graves of Burke and Wills at Melbourne General Cemetery

Robert O'Hara Burke (1821 – 1861) was an Irish soldier and police officer who is most notably remembered as an explorer of Australia. He achieved fame as the leader of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north.

Early Life

Robert O'Hara Burke was born in St Clerans, County Galway, Ireland, in 1821. He was part of the British Army before emigrating to Australia in 1853, where he joined the police force in Victoria.

Exploration Career

In 1860, Burke was appointed the leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition, later known as the Burke and Wills expedition. The expedition aimed to cross Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north, a distance of around 3,250 kilometers. Despite his lack of experience in exploration, Burke was chosen due to his leadership qualities and determination.

The expedition left Melbourne on 20 August 1860 with a large party and supplies. However, the journey was plagued by poor decision-making, lack of preparation, and internal disputes. Burke, along with William John Wills, Charles Gray, and John King, reached the northern coast of Australia but on their return journey, Gray died, and the remaining members struggled to survive.

Death and Legacy

Burke and Wills both died on the return journey in 1861, near the banks of Cooper Creek in South Australia. John King was the only member of the party to survive, being cared for by Indigenous Australians until he was rescued.

The deaths of Burke and Wills became a national tragedy and highlighted the harsh realities of inland exploration in Australia. Despite the tragic outcome, the expedition played a crucial role in opening up the interior of Australia to the European settlement and contributed to the mapping and understanding of the Australian landscape.

Commemoration

Robert O'Hara Burke is commemorated in various ways throughout Australia, including monuments, plaques, and parks named in his honor. The Royal Society of Victoria, which had sponsored the expedition, established the Burke and Wills Environmental Research Award in their memory.

See Also

• Exploration of Australia
• Burke and Wills expedition
• John King (explorer)
• William John Wills