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Burke and Wills

The triumph and tragedy of Australia's most famous explorers

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Burke and Wills

By: Peter FitzSimons
Narrated by: Michael Carman
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About this listen

 'They have left here today!' he calls to the others. When King puts his hand down above the ashes of the fire, it is to find it still hot. There is even a tiny flame flickering from the end of one log. They must have left just hours ago.

MELBOURNE, 20 AUGUST 1860. In an ambitious quest to be the first Europeans to cross the harsh Australian continent, the Victorian Exploring Expedition sets off, farewelled by 15,000 cheering well-wishers. Led by Robert O'Hara Burke, a brave man totally lacking in the bush skills necessary for his task; surveyor and meteorologist William Wills; and 17 others, the expedition took 20 tons of equipment carried on six wagons, 23 horses and 26 camels.

Almost immediately plagued by disputes and sackings, the expeditioners battled the extremes of the Australian landscape and weather: its deserts, the boggy mangrove swamps of the Gulf, the searing heat and flooding rains. Food ran short and, unable to live off the land, the men nevertheless mostly spurned the offers of help from the local Indigenous people.

In desperation, leaving the rest of the party at the expedition's depot on Coopers Creek, Burke, Wills, Charley Gray and John King made a dash for the Gulf in December 1860. Bad luck and bad management would see them miss by just hours a rendezvous back at Coopers Creek, leaving them stranded in the wilderness with practically no supplies. Only King survived to tell the tale.

Yet, despite their tragic fates, the names of Burke and Wills have become synonymous with perseverance and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. They live on in our nation's history - and their story remains immediate and compelling. 19th Century Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Australia, New Zealand & Oceania Modern Oceania Explorer

Critic Reviews

FitzSimons brings this story of failure, curiosity and heroism alive in a compelling read.
All stars
Most relevant
FitzSimon's narrative style brings the story to life in a way I hadn't previously experienced through reading other sources on the subject. Like any good story, it leaves you wanting more - and I've been researching all the tangents to this story since putting this book down.

A great tale of survival and tragedy

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Loved the timeline style. I was immersed with this book I at times felt like I was part of the exploration party.

Great read.

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If you love Australian history or even have an interest in it this is a must. It quite slow to grab you in the start but hang in you will not be disappointed.

brilliant story,

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Such an epic and tragic tale. Very well researched, as all FitzSimons books are.

Well narrated and thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end.

A Truly Tragic Tale

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A fascinating account of the Burke and Wills expedition. Narrated brilliantly. It's obvious a huge amount of research went into the book, and the current tence telling works so well.

A gripping account

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