In 1860, the Royal Society of Victoria organised the Victorian Exploring Expedition. Its brief was to cross the continent from South to North and return, making scientific observations of land quality, water, flora and fauna as they went. Led by Burke and with Wills as navigator, the expedition achieved both of these aims, but at a terrible cost. Gray died on the return from the Gulf. Burke and Wills perished at Cooper Creek because they arrived after the base camp party had given up hope of their return and had left, only hours before the Gulf party returned.

Those tragic events associated with the famous "Dig Tree" are all that most Australians know and remember of the history of the expedition. Commencing with the 150th anniversary of the departure of the expedition in August 2010, the Royal Society has initiated a program of commemorative events and projects which it hopes has and will remind the nation not just of the tragic ending, but of the expedition's achievements in exploration and scientific discovery, and the opening up of a path which many others would soon follow. The program mirrors the timing of the events of 150 years ago, culminating in the anniversary of the state funeral of Burke and Wills in January 2013.

The project has been endorsed by Federal, State and local governments. Read more...

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