The History of Australian Exploration from 1788 to 1888 Part 49

March round the Great Bight. 1840-41.

Favenc, Ernest-- In charge of the QUEENSLANDER Transcontinental Expedition, organised to discover the nature and value of the country in the neighbourhood of a then proposed line to Port Darwin, and the geographical features of the unknown portion. Leaving Blackall, the then most western settlement in Queensland, the party made Powell's Creek on the Overland Telegraph Line.

Discovering the Corella Lagoon, Cresswell Creek, Sylvester, and De Burgh Creeks, etc. This expedition had the effect of opening up a great area of good pastoral country which is now stocked. 1878-1879.

Traced the heads of the rivers running into the Gulf of Carpentaria near the Queensland border, and in the following year took a more lengthened expedition across the coast range to the mouth of the Macarthur River. A large extent of valuable country was found in the basin drained by this river, and a fine permanent spring discovered. Followed this river down to salt water, then returned by another route to Daly Waters Telegraph Station. 1882-83.

Finnis, Colonel-- Formed settlement at Escape Cliffs. 1864.

Fitzgerald, Governor-- Western Australia. Accompanied by A. C. Gregory and party, proceeded to Champion Bay by sea, and thence inland to examine the new mineral discovery. On their return they had an affray with the natives, the Governor being speared in the leg. 1848.

Fitzroy, Captain R.-- In the BEAGLE, visited King George's Sound. 1829.

Flinders, Matthew-- With Ba.s.s in the TOM THUMB traced the coast from Sydney in 1795. And the following year in the same boat reached Port Hacking. 1796.

With Ba.s.s in the NORFOLK, discovered Ba.s.s's Straits. 1799.

In the NORFOLK, dispatched by Governor Hunter to explore the coast to the northward; reached Hervey Bay. 1799.

In command of the INVESTIGATOR and LADY NELSON, left England to examine the coasts of TERRA A USTRALIS. First sighted Australia at Cape Leeuwin.

Examined the south and east coasts of Australia, and explored the Gulf of Carpentaria and the coast of Arnheim's Land. The INVESTIGATOR being then found unseaworthy, he returned to Port Jackson, after a visit to, Timor.

For the purpose of procuring another vessel to continue the survey, he took pa.s.sage for England with his officers and crew in the PORPOISE.

Seven days after leaving Sydney, the vessel was wrecked on the Barrier Reef, and Flinders in an open boat made his way back to Sydney, a distance of seven hundred miles. Governor King gave him the c.u.mBERLAND, in which vessel he proceeded homeward, and on putting in to the Mauritius, he was there made prisoner by General de Caen, the French Governor, and detained in the Isle of France nearly seven years.

Flinders' journal of his discoveries was published the day after his death. It was Flinders who suggested the name of Australia. 1801-1803.

"Fly" (The)-- Under command of Captain Blackwood, made a minute survey of the Great Barrier, and continued the survey of Captains Wickharn and Stokes.

1842-45.

Forrest, Alexander-- Took charge of a private expedition, in search of new pastoral country.

1871.

Led an expedition from De Grey River to the telegraph line, striking Daly Waters. A most successful trip; finding some of the most valuable country in the northern part of Western Australia; which has since been stocked with both cattle and sheep, and large mineral wealth has been developed.

1879.

Forrest, John-- First expedition, Lake Barlee. Not Successful in finding good available country, but obtained a reliable survey of a great deal of country hitherto unknown. 1869.

Accompanied by his brother, made a journey from Perth to Adelaide by way of the Great Bight, not traversed since Eyre's celebrated march; and was able to give a more impartial verdict of the country, travelling, as he did, with larger facilities. His report showed that the fringe of gloomy thicket was only confined to the coast. Beyond, he found fine pastoral country. 1870.

With his brother, Alexander Forrest, started from the furthest outside station on the Murchison, and made a successful trip to Peak Station, on the overland telegraph line. With nothing but pack-horses, crossed the middle of the continent, where the very heart of the terrible desert is supposed to exist, taking his men, and most of his horses, in safety; concluding one of the most valuable journeys on record. 1874.

Fort Wellington-- At Raffles Bay. Founded 1826; abandoned 1829.

Frazer, Charles-- The botanist who accompanied Captain Stirling in H.M.S. Success during survey of coast from King George's Sound to the Swan River. 1828.

Freeling, Colonel-- Surveyor-General of South Australia. Sent to verify Goyder's reports on Blanche Water and Lake Torrens, and found that the princ.i.p.al features of Goyder's reports were the results of mirage. 1857.

Fremantle, Captain-- Hoisted the British Flag at Fremantle. 1829.

Fresne, Captain Marion du-- With Captain Crozet in the MASCARIN and CASTRES, from Nance to Tasmania--the first visitors after Tasman. Thence to New Zealand, where they were murdered by the Maories. 1772.

Freycinet, L. de-- In L'URANIE, saw Edels' Land, Shark's Bay, and landed at Sydney. 1817.

Frome, Captain-- Surveyor-General of South Australia. Made some explorations in the neighbourhood of Lake Torrens. 1843.

Furneaux, Captain Tobias-- With the ADVENTURE, accompanied Cook on his second voyage in search of the Southern Continent. Separated from Cook, and afterwards, when they met, gave his opinion that Tasmania and New South Wales were joined with a deep bay intervening. This opinion Cook thought sufficient to prevent a further examination by himself being necessary. 1772.

Gawler, Colonel-- Governor of South Australia. Made an excursion to the Murray. He was accompanied by Captain Sturt (Surveyor-General), Miss Gawler, and Mrs.

Sturt, but it is to be presumed Miss Gawler and Mrs, Sturt accompanied the party but a short distance. 1839.

"Geelvink" (The)-- (See Vlaming.)

Gibson-- Died when out with Ernest Giles' second expedition. Scene of his death named "Gibson's Desert." 1873.

Gilbert-- The naturalist accompanying Leichhardt's first expedition.

Killed by the blacks at the head of the Gulf of Carpentaria. 1845.

Giles, Ernest-- Starting from Chamber's Pillar, South Australia, made a journey to the westward, but was stopped by a large dry salt lake. He named it Lake Amadens. He returned, having traversed a great deal of country before unknown. 1872.

Left on his second trip, starting from the Alberga, that flows into Lake Eyre, travelling north-west. Made many determined attempts to cross the spinifex desert, but returned unsuccessful. One of the party, Gibson, died, and several horses. The scene of Gibson's death is now marked as Gibson's Desert. 1873.

With an equipment of camels, made his third and successful attempt to reach Western Australia, but, from want of water, no knowledge of the country was obtained beyond their immediate track. Giles then retraced his steps to the overland line, following a track to the north of Forrests route, by way of the Murchison, and crossed over to the Ashburton. Then striking south of east he came to his former track of 1873, at the Alfred and Marie Range--the range he had so vainly tried to reach when the man Gibson met his death. Finally arrived at Peak Station.

1875-76.

Gonneville, Paulmier De-- Visited the south seas, and is claimed by the French to have landed on New Holland. 1503.

Gosse, W. C.-- In charge of the Central and Western Exploring Expedition. Left Alice Springs, on the overland telegraph line, with the intention of reaching Perth, having a mixed equipment of camels and horses. After many attempts to penetrate westward, Gosse was obliged to return, the heat of the weather and the dryness of the country rendering it useless to think of risking his party with any hope of success. 1873.

Gould, Captain-- On the south coast, near Port Lincoln, 1827-28.

Goyder, G. W.-- Deputy Surveyor-General of South Australia. Gave a most glowing account of Blanche Water, and the country around Lake Torrens. Subsequently Colonel Freeling discovered that Goyder had been misled by a mirage.

1857.

In the Great Bight, to the north of Fowler's Bay. Found nothing but mallee scrub and spinifex. 1862.

Selected Port Darwin as a suitable site for a towns.h.i.+p, and removed to that place the settlement from Escape Cliffs. 1865.

Grant, James-- In LADY NELSON, the first vessel to pa.s.s through Ba.s.s's Straits, and verified Ba.s.s's examination. 1801.

Gray, Charles-- One of the members of Burke and Wills' expedition. (See Burke.) 1860-61.

Gregory, Frank-- Reached the long-sought Gascoyne, and followed it to Shark's Bay.

Followed the Murchison down to the Geraldine mine, finding good pastoral country, and well watered. This was a much needed encouragement to the colony. 1858.

In charge of party, left Perth in the DOLPHIN for Nickol Bay, on the north-west coast, to land their horses and commence the trip. Discover the Fortescue, the Hammersley Range, and the Ashburton, which was traced upwards through a large extent of good pastoral country. Named the De Grey and Oakover rivers. The stigma of desolation was now partially removed by the discoveries of this expedition. 1861.

Gregory, A. C.-- Accompanied by his two brothers. Their first expedition in Western Australia; travelled through a large extent of salt swampy country, entering the salt lake region, until they reached a range of granite hills forming the watershed of the coast streams. After several disappointments, turned to the westward to examine rivers discovered by Grey. On the head of one of these (the Arrowsmith) they found a seam of coal; and returned to Bolgart Springs. 1846.

With party to explore the Gascoyne. Found a galena lode on the Murchison.

1848.