About: Journals of Australian Explorations by A C and F T Gregory

AUSTRALIAN EXPLORATIONS

Produced by Sue Asscher

JOURNALS

OF

AUSTRALIAN EXPLORATIONS

BY

AUGUSTUS CHARLES GREGORY,C.M.G., F.R.G.S., ETC.,Gold Medalist, Royal Geographical Society,

AND

FRANCIS THOMAS GREGORY,F.R.G.S., ETC., ETC.,Gold Medalist, Royal Geographical Society.

BRISBANE:JAMES C. BEAL, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, WILLIAM STREET.

1884.

PREFACE.

Numerous inquiries having been made for copies of the Journals of theExplorations by the Messrs. Gregory in the Western, Northern, and Centralportions of Australia, and as these journals have hitherto only beenpartially published in a fragmentary form, and are now out of print, ithas been deemed desirable to collect the material into one volume, forconvenience of reference, and to place on permanent record some of theearlier attempts to penetrate the terra incognita which then constitutedso vast a portion of the Australian Continent.

Although, during the twenty two years which have elapsed since the lastof these expeditions was undertaken, the geographical knowledge ofAustralia has so far advanced as to fill in most of the details of itsphysical features and set at rest the speculative opinions and theoriesof early explorers, it has not been deemed desirable to alter or amendthe impressions or views recorded at the time, but simply reproduce thejournals as originally compiled.

[TABLE OF CONTENTS.

MESSRS. GREGORY'S EXPEDITION TO THE EAST AND NORTH OF SWAN RIVER.1846.

THE SETTLERS'EXPEDITION TO THE NORTHWARD FROM PERTH, UNDER MR.ASSISTANT SURVEYOR A.C. GREGORY.1848.

HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR CHARLES FITZGERALD'S EXPEDITION TO THE GERALDINELEAD MINE.1848.

THE MURCHISON RIVER.1857.

GASCOYNE RIVER.1858.

NORTH WEST COAST.1861.

NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION.1855 TO 1856.

EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF DR. LEICHHARDT.1857 TO 1858.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

[missing frontispiece (ripped out), probably photo ofA.C. Gregory.]

F.T. GREGORY.

H.C. GREGORY.

THE GOUTY STEM TREE, NEAR THE DOME, ON THE RIVER VICTORIA, NORTH WESTAUSTRALIA.

T. BAINES.

C.F. GREGORY.]

AUSTRALIAN EXPLORATIONS.

MESSRS. GREGORY'S EXPEDITION TO THE EAST AND NORTH OF SWAN RIVER.

1846.

EARLY CONDITION OF WEST AUSTRALIA.

The colony of Western Australia was established in 1829; but itsisolation from the older settlement of New South Wales rendered itnecessary to import all the horses, cattle, and sheep by sailing vesselsfrom Tasmania, or other remote sources, while the heavy losses anddifficulties attending long sea voyages prevented any large importationsof stock so that, though there was a fair rate of increase, the flocksand herds of the settlers had found sufficient pasturage for the firstten years on the banks of the Swan River and its upper valley, the Avon,together with the coast district southward to the Vasse Inlet; but after1840 the stock owners began to feel that all prospect of materialincrease must be relinquished unless additional pastures could bediscovered.

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