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The news of Burke and Wills' failure to return reached Melbourne at the end of June 1861 and the Royal Society of Victoria immediately began organising search operations. In early July a party led by Alfred Howitt left Melbourne, reaching Menindee by the end of the month. During August and September other relief expeditions left on foot from Adelaide (McKinley) and Rockhampton (Walker) and from Melbourne and Brisbane by ship.
In early July King was alone at Cooper Creek. After witnessing Burke's death he went back to where they had left Wills, only to find his body. A few days later he found the Yandruwandha who took him in and looked after him through July, August and September.
Howitt's party reached the Dig Tree depot on the Cooper on 13 September, and two days later his surveyor Edwin Welch found King. Howitt buried Wills on 18 September, and on 25 September began the return journey, bringing back King.
By November Melbourne knew of the fate of Burke and Wills and a Commission of Enquiry was set up to investigate their deaths. Hearings began on 18 November and continued through December. Findings were handed down in January 1862.
Burke's grave was found by McKinley in December, and the Royal Society of Victoria decided to send Howitt to the Cooper again, this time to retrieve the bodies of Burke and Wills. Howitt was back on the Cooper by February, but it was not until December 1862 that the bodies were returned to Melbourne. The funeral was held on 21 January 1863, the first State Funeral in Australia.
Month by month timeline
1861
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July
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1-
8
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King alone at Cooper Creek after Burke dies.
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|
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4
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Howitt leaves Melbourne with the Victorian Relief Expedition to search for Burke and Wills.
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|
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9-
10
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King finds Wills’ body at Breerily.
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|
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11-
31
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King remains at Cooper Creek, being looked after by the Yandruwandha.
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|
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13
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Howitt and Victorian Relief Expedition pass Swan Hill
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|
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30
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Howitt passes through Menindee
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August
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4
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HCMS Victoria leaves Melbourne for Brisbane on the Burke Relief Expedition.
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|
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14
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Howitt and the Victorian Relief Expedition leave the Darling at Wilcannia.
John McKinlay and the South Australian Burke Relief Expedition leave Adelaide.
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|
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24
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William Landsborough leaves Brisbane aboard the SS Firefly on the Queensland Rescue Expedition.
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September
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1-
15
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King remains at Cooper Creek, being looked after by the Yandruwandha
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|
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7
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Frederick Walker leaves Rockhampton on the Burke Relief Expedition.
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|
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8
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Alfred Howitt arrives at Cooper Creek with the Victorian Relief Expedition.
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13
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Alfred Howitt arrives at the Dig Tree Depot.
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|
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15
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Howitt's surveyor, Edwin Welch finds John King
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|
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16-
24
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Howitt remains at the Cooper while King is recovering. Wills is buried on 18 August.
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25
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Howitt, King and the Victorian Relief Expedition leave Cooper Creek
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October
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1
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The HCMS Victoria and SS Firefly arrived at the Albert River on the Burke Relief Expedition.
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November
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2
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News of the deaths of Burke and Wills reached Melbourne
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|
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12
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Royal Commission of Enquiry appointed to look into the deaths of Burke and Wills
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|
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18-
30
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Commission of Enquiry meets and begins hearing evidence.
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22
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King and two members of the Relief Expedition reach Swan Hill.
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28
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Howitt returned to Melbourne
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December
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5-
30
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Commission continues to hear evidence
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|
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6
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McKinley finds Burke’s grave
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|
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8
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The Royal Society decides to send Howitt to recover the bodies of Burke and Wills
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1862
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January
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31
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The Commission of Enquiry hands down its findings
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February
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6
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Landsborough and the Queensland Relief Expedition return to Albert River
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|
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14
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John McKinlay finds the skeleton of Burke's horse, Billy
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|
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18
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Alfred Howitt's Victorian Exploring Party arrive back at Cooper Creek with the task of recovering the remains of Burke and Wills
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March
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31
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The HCMS Victoria returns to Melbourne after the Burke Relief Expedition
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April
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13
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Alfred Howitt disinters Wills from his grave at Breerily Waterhole on Cooper Creek
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July
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1
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The foundation stone for the Castlemaine memorial is laid
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24
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John McDouall Stuart reaches the north coast of Australia on his third attempt.
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December
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8
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Alfred Howitt arrives in Adelaide with the bodies of Burke and Wills
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|
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10
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The remains of Burke and Wills are part of a public parade through the streets of Adelaide.
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27
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Alfred Howitt arrives in Melbourne with the bodies of Burke and Wills
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1863
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January
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5-
16
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Burke and Wills lie in state in the Royal Society of Victoria building
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|
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21
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The State Funeral of Burke and Wills is held in Melbourne
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1865
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April
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21
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The Charles Summers Burke and Wills statue is unveiled in Melbourne
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