Posted 05/08/2011 8:03 pm
the standard reference on B&W is "Dig" by Frank Clune. I read it a long time ago. Most of the icons of Australian history have been re-appraised recently, so I won't be surprized of some new scholarly work on B&W appears soon.
Their role in the greater scheme of Australian history is poorly understood: they weren't just explorers, their expedition was an attempt by the government of the Colony of Victoria to stake a claim to vacant land on the north coast of Australia - where I now live.
BURKE is the subject of ill-deserved derision, based on his alleged inability to navigate, even on well-formed roads in Victoria. In fact, he got "lost" whilst visiting a lady-friend, and he decided to put the story out that he was "lost", rather than just being AWOL.
this is a good summary -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burke_...s_expedition
You'll see in it a reference to William Landsborough. When I drive from Darwin to Melbourne (it still takes about 5 days in a modern car, on modern highways), over 1,000 km of the journey is on the Landsborough Highway (formerly National Route 66; now A2). It has an austere beauty ... I'll dig up a pic for you, if you like.
Peter
Their role in the greater scheme of Australian history is poorly understood: they weren't just explorers, their expedition was an attempt by the government of the Colony of Victoria to stake a claim to vacant land on the north coast of Australia - where I now live.
BURKE is the subject of ill-deserved derision, based on his alleged inability to navigate, even on well-formed roads in Victoria. In fact, he got "lost" whilst visiting a lady-friend, and he decided to put the story out that he was "lost", rather than just being AWOL.
this is a good summary -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burke_...s_expedition
You'll see in it a reference to William Landsborough. When I drive from Darwin to Melbourne (it still takes about 5 days in a modern car, on modern highways), over 1,000 km of the journey is on the Landsborough Highway (formerly National Route 66; now A2). It has an austere beauty ... I'll dig up a pic for you, if you like.
Peter
