In part 5 of our series Robert Burke and William Wills lead a small contingent of men into the outback of Australia in an attempt to reach reach the north coast - and in the process become the first men to cross the continent.

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.


• John McDouall Stuart – Scottish explorer who was the chief competitor with the VEE to blaze a route across Australia.


• Hermann Beckler – German doctor and botanist.


• Ludwig Becker – German geologist and naturalist.


• William Wright – Bushman who joined the VEE at Menindee.


• John King – 22-year old ex-soldier. Selected by Burke to be part of the contingent going to the north coast.


• Dick – Aboriginal Guide who accompanied Burke – and then Lyons – to the north.


• 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.


• Selwyn Range - Rugged mountain range in the interior of Australia that the expedition would need to cross.

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